Israel says 1,100-tonne blast destroyed major Hezbollah tunnel complex
Key Takeaways
- Israel says it destroyed a major Hezbollah tunnel network in southern Lebanon.
- More than 1,100 tonnes of explosives were reportedly used in the demolition.
- A magnitude 4.1 seismic event was recorded around the time of the blast.
The Israeli military said the underground network beneath Ali al-Taher Ridge housed Hezbollah fighters and weapons, while the demolition coincided with a magnitude 4.1 seismic event.
The Israeli military said it destroyed a major Hezbollah tunnel complex beneath the Ali al-Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon after taking control of the strategic high ground.
Footage released by the IDF shows operations conducted in "recent months", with troops crossing the Litani River and advancing towards Beaufort Castle and Ali al-Taher. Soldiers are also seen entering underground routes, seizing weapons and striking tunnel shafts.
Israeli forces had earlier seized Beaufort Castle, giving them control of another position overlooking the Litani River and surrounding areas.
According to the Israeli military, the underground network housed Hezbollah's "Badr" Unit and contained weapons and "living quarters" that allowed fighters to remain underground for "extended periods".
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Israeli officials said more than 1,100 tonnes of explosives were used to destroy the complex, claiming the operation removed a strategic threat to northern Israel.
Lebanese media earlier reported a "massive explosion" and powerful tremors in the area on Thursday. The US Geological Survey recorded a magnitude 4.1 seismic event in southern Lebanon around the time of the demolition.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz described the tunnels as "strategic terrorist infrastructure that was built over two decades, with Iranian funding and planning".
Hezbollah has not independently confirmed the loss, and the Israeli claims could not be independently verified.
The Ali al-Taher Ridge is roughly 600 metres high, overlooks Nabatieh and sits about 15 kilometres from the Israeli border. The area has become a key battleground since Israeli forces pushed deeper into southern Lebanon earlier this year.
Fighting has continued despite a US-brokered ceasefire reached in June. A wider framework calls for Hezbollah to disarm and Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon. The process has stalled, with Hezbollah refusing to give up its weapons and Israel saying it will not withdraw until the group is disarmed.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
