Hezbollah tunnels southern Lebanon/ Israel Hezbollah conflict/ Israeli forces uncover tunnels/ Hezbollah attack plans/ Hezbollah Israel border conflict/ Newslooks/ TEL AVIV/ Israel/ Morning Edition/ Israeli forces have uncovered a network of Hezbollah tunnels in southern Lebanon, designed to conceal weapons and fighters. These tunnels, carved into solid rock, are part of Hezbollah’s defense strategy against Israeli airstrikes. Israel’s ongoing operation aims to neutralize Hezbollah’s capabilities and prevent cross-border attacks similar to those from Gaza. The conflict has displaced millions and killed thousands in Lebanon, while Israeli forces push through with air and ground strikes.
Hezbollah Tunnel Network in Lebanon Quick Looks
- Hezbollah’s Tunnels: Israeli forces have uncovered an extensive tunnel network in southern Lebanon, used by Hezbollah to store weapons and launch attacks.
- Israel’s Objective: After focusing on Hamas in Gaza, Israel is now targeting Hezbollah’s underground hideouts along its northern border.
- Lebanon Conflict: Israeli airstrikes have killed over 1,700 people, and more than a million Lebanese residents have been displaced.
- Tunnel Infrastructure: Hezbollah’s tunnels, some large enough for vehicles, are fortified with supplies, weapons, and can house militants for long periods.
Israel Uncovers Hezbollah’s Tunnel Network in Southern Lebanon
Deep Look
Following its offensive against Hamas in Gaza, Israel has shifted its military focus northward, targeting Hezbollah’s extensive tunnel network in southern Lebanon. These tunnels, which Hezbollah has used to store weapons and plan attacks, have become a focal point for Israeli forces determined to dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure.
The operation, which began in early October 2024, involves thousands of Israeli troops combing through Lebanon’s rugged terrain. Hezbollah, a paramilitary force backed by Iran, poses a significant threat to Israel, having launched rocket attacks into the country shortly after Hamas initiated its deadly raid in 2023. With Hezbollah’s presence deeply entrenched in southern Lebanon, Israeli forces are working to neutralize the group’s capabilities before another cross-border attack can materialize.
Hezbollah’s tunnels, unlike the sandy tunnels used by Hamas in Gaza, are dug into solid rock, requiring extensive time, money, and expertise. Some are large enough for trucks loaded with missiles to pass through, and many are equipped with lighting, ventilation, and supplies for extended use. These tunnels have been expanded since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, despite a U.N. ceasefire resolution aimed at keeping Hezbollah out of southern Lebanon.
Israeli military officials have reported discovering hundreds of underground positions, many stocked with weapons and rations. The military has either destroyed the tunnels or rendered them unusable with cement. The ground campaign remains focused on a narrow strip of southern Lebanon near the Israeli border, although Israeli airstrikes have reached farther into the country, killing over 1,700 people, including women and children, according to local health officials.
Despite the destruction caused by the Israeli operation, Hezbollah maintains significant support in southern Lebanon. Many residents, who fled the area months ago, view the group as their protector, especially since the Lebanese army lacks the resources to defend them against Israeli incursions. Hezbollah has long positioned itself as a defender against Israeli aggression, and this support has allowed it to build military infrastructure within villages in the region.
One of Israel’s primary concerns is that Hezbollah could launch an incursion similar to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari warned that Hezbollah has openly declared its intention to carry out a massacre on Israel’s northern border, though no evidence of an imminent attack has been presented. Hezbollah’s capabilities, however, remain a serious concern for Israel, as evidenced by their advanced tunnel network and access to weaponry.
Israel’s operation in Lebanon has drawn parallels to its campaign against Hamas in Gaza, where underground tunnels were used by militants to evade airstrikes and conduct insurgency-style attacks. While Israeli authorities insist that their efforts in Lebanon are yielding results, with hundreds of Hezbollah fighters killed, Lebanese military experts argue that Hezbollah’s tunnels have slowed Israel’s progress, allowing the group to remain resilient.
Israel previously encountered Hezbollah’s tunnels during a 2018 operation to destroy cross-border attack tunnels. Six tunnels were found at that time, including one that extended a kilometer in length and 80 meters deep. Today, Israel’s military is tasked with rooting out an even more extensive network, as Hezbollah has expanded its underground infrastructure to include tunnels in multiple areas of Lebanon, from the border with Syria to the southern suburbs of Beirut.
As Israeli troops push through the difficult terrain of southern Lebanon, their mission to destroy Hezbollah’s tunnel network is seen as essential to preventing another large-scale attack. With tensions still high, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah shows no signs of de-escalating, and the region’s civilians remain caught in the crossfire of a complex and deeply entrenched war.
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