Lead

Israeli forces have destroyed several underground tunnels in southern Lebanon that had been used by Hezbollah, according to statements from the Israeli military and officials. The operations, conducted over recent weeks, targeted infrastructure near the Beaufort Ridge and included a command center located close to a United Nations peacekeeping position. Senior Israeli officers, however, said that additional underground systems remain undiscovered in the region.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting from the Jerusalem Post and the Russian state agency TASS — English provides overlapping but distinct accounts of the Israeli military operations against Hezbollah's tunnel network.

The Jerusalem Post, citing IDF announcements and military sources, detailed the destruction of a Hezbollah command center in the village of Haddatha in the Nabatiya area. According to the report, the underground route was 55 meters long, contained three rooms, and was located about 300 meters from a UNIFIL building. The military also said that troops had located weapons belonging to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, including Kalashnikovs, RPGs, explosives, and grenades.

Another Jerusalem Post report, based on data presented to Defense Minister Israel Katz, said the destruction of the tunnel network in the Beaufort area and along the Ali al-Taher Ridge involved hundreds of tons of explosives and dealt what the report described as a severe strategic blow to Hezbollah. The same article quoted senior officers in the IDF Northern Command as saying the military had known about the underground system for years and understood it was intended to support direct fire against Israeli communities and military positions.

TASS — English, citing a joint statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, reported that about 700 tons of explosives were used to demolish the tunnels near the Beaufort Ridge. The agency quoted the Israeli leaders as saying that Israel would not accept any violation of the ceasefire agreement and would respond severely to any attempt by Hezbollah to harm Israeli forces or civilians.

Key Claims

  • The IDF destroyed an underground route that served as a Hezbollah command center. According to the Jerusalem Post, it was 55 meters long, contained three rooms, and was about 300 meters away from a UNIFIL building.
  • IDF troops located weapons belonging to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, including Kalashnikovs, RPGs, explosives, and grenades, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
  • A military bulldozer was struck by a Hezbollah drone explosion, according to the Jerusalem Post, citing military sources.
  • Israeli forces destroyed several underground tunnels in southern Lebanon that had been used by Hezbollah, as reported by both the Jerusalem Post and TASS — English.
  • About 700 tons of explosives were used to demolish the tunnels near the Beaufort Ridge, according to TASS — English.
  • The State of Israel will not accept any violation of the ceasefire agreement and will respond severely to any attempt by Hezbollah to harm IDF forces or Israeli civilians, as stated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, quoted by TASS — English.
  • The IDF had been aware for years of the underground tunnels constructed by Iran and Hezbollah in the area, according to senior officers quoted by the Jerusalem Post.

Perspectives

Israeli military leadership

Senior officers in the IDF Northern Command said the military had known for years about the underground system constructed by Iran and Hezbollah. They argued that the tunnels were critical to Hezbollah's operational plan for attacking Israel and expressed concern that similar infrastructure remains in southern Lebanon, suggesting that the Lebanese Armed Forces are incapable of dealing with these sites.

Israeli political leadership

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement, quoted by TASS, declaring that Israel will not accept any violation of the ceasefire agreement and will respond severely to any attempt by Hezbollah to harm Israeli forces or civilians. They emphasized that the IDF would remain in the security zone and continue to destroy all terror infrastructure.