Israel's military announced it has destroyed a significant underground complex belonging to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, utilizing over 1,000 tonnes of explosives to demolish two tunnels that extended more than 2km (1.2 miles) beneath the Ali Taher Ridge. The detonation caused seismic activity equivalent to a magnitude 4.1 earthquake, as reported by the US Geological Survey. Hezbollah and the Lebanese government have not yet issued a public statement.
Israeli forces had taken control of the ridge the previous week following prolonged conflict with the Iran-backed group. The Israeli military currently occupies a substantial portion of southern Lebanon, which it captured after hostilities with Hezbollah resumed in March.
Images shared by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) depicted a fireball illuminating the night sky. A resident of Nabatieh, located approximately 6km west of the ridge, described the event to the BBC: "The sky lit up and about 15 seconds later we heard the terrifying sound. The house shook all together as if it was literally an earthquake." The resident also recounted scenes of panic, with people screaming and children crying, leading many to flee the area towards Beirut.
Tremors from the explosion were felt as far north as the coastal city of Saida, 40km away.
The IDF stated that the destroyed underground infrastructure included a command center for Hezbollah's Badr unit and was equipped with numerous rockets, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, anti-tank weapons, mines, and explosives. In a statement on Telegram, the IDF described it as "strategic infrastructure that was constructed over two decades, funded and planned by the Iranian terror regime." They added, "All of the terrorists who were inside the infrastructure were eliminated or fled."
The IDF indicated that the demolition of this complex marked the completion of a mission to destroy eight tunnels and establish a "security zone" in the region.
This latest action occurs amidst escalating conflict in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces have intensified operations against Hezbollah positions and continue to maintain what Israel terms a security zone near the border. Lebanese media reported further Israeli strikes in other southern locations on Thursday, including Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Mansouri in the Tyre district.
Local television station MTV reported that the Lebanese army has bolstered its deployments in areas outside Israeli control, including the southern city of Nabatieh, to enhance stability and reassure residents.
Lebanon became involved in the conflict between Israel, the US, and Iran on March 2nd, when Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel in response to a strike that killed Iran's supreme leader. Israel retaliated with a bombing campaign across Lebanon and an invasion of a significant part of the country's south, with its forces currently occupying approximately 5% of Lebanese territory.
Fighting had decreased following a ceasefire agreement between Iran and the US in June, along with a separate accord between Lebanon and Israel. Under the Lebanon-Israel framework, Hezbollah was expected to disarm, Israeli forces to gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon, and the Lebanese army to deploy throughout the area. However, Hezbollah was not directly involved in the agreement and has refused direct negotiations.
Despite a reduction in hostilities, Israeli strikes and demolitions in southern Lebanon have persisted.
According to the health ministry, at least 4,362 people have been killed in Lebanon during the conflict, including 395 women and 259 children. These figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Israeli authorities report that 40 Israeli soldiers and four civilians have been killed.
Additional reporting by Raffi Berg in London and Samantha Granville and Ghaith Solh in Beirut.
