According to a report by The Times of Israel, Israeli troops operating in southern Lebanon this week uncovered and sealed a large Hezbollah tunnel, which was concealed beneath a cemetery.
The discovery, described by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as a strategic Hezbollah asset, highlights the group's preparation for potential cross-border operations.
The IDF reports that the underground site was located by the elite Shaldag unit of the Israeli Air Force, alongside ground forces from the IDF's 36th Division. Acting on intelligence, the troops conducted a raid on the tunnel, which spanned nearly a kilometer (approximately 0.6 miles) and was situated roughly 1.5 kilometers (about one mile) from Israel's northern border. One of the main entrances was hidden among graves in a cemetery, a tactic intended to disguise the tunnel's existence from Israeli forces and Lebanese residents.
Once inside, the troops found sophisticated infrastructure including command and control rooms, sleeping quarters, and caches of weapons. A video released by the IDF showcased dozens of weapons and military equipment stockpiled within the tunnel, illustrating Hezbollah's preparation for an offensive into Israeli territory. The military describes the site as a "staging ground" for what it says was a planned invasion.
After thoroughly mapping the tunnel's layout, Israeli forces undertook an extensive sealing operation. According to the IDF, more than 4,500 cubic meters of concrete were pumped into the tunnel system to render it unusable, involving hundreds of trucks and cement mixers. The scale of the operation underlines the significance attributed to the discovery by Israeli forces, who are increasingly focused on curbing Hezbollah's influence along the volatile Israel-Lebanon border.
This operation comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which have escalated in recent months. Israeli officials have expressed concern about Hezbollah's ongoing military buildup in southern Lebanon, which they see as a direct threat to Israel's security.
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