Israel has destroyed a major underground tunnel network belonging to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, in an operation that reportedly caused a tremor measured at 4.1 magnitude. The Israeli military said the extensive underground complex was located beneath the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge and had been used as part of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure.
According to the Israeli military, the tunnel system extended for more than two kilometres and contained weapons and military equipment, including rockets, missiles, drones, anti-tank weapons and explosives. The network also reportedly included command rooms, storage facilities and areas where Hezbollah fighters could remain underground for extended periods.
The destruction was carried out through a large-scale demolition operation. The size of the explosions was reportedly sufficient to register on seismic monitoring systems, with a 4.1-magnitude tremor detected in southern Lebanon. Residents in surrounding areas were reported to have felt the shaking, although the seismic event was linked to the explosions rather than being described as a naturally occurring earthquake.
The Ali al-Taher ridge is considered strategically important because of its elevated position and its view over large areas of southern Lebanon. Israeli officials have described the location as an important Hezbollah stronghold and a key part of the group’s military infrastructure in the region.
The Israeli military has said that its forces established operational control over the ridge and subsequently moved to destroy the underground network. Israeli officials have argued that eliminating Hezbollah’s tunnel infrastructure is necessary to prevent the group from rebuilding its military capabilities and using underground routes to launch attacks.
The operation comes amid continued tensions between Israel and Hezbollah despite efforts to maintain a ceasefire. The situation in southern Lebanon remains volatile, with both sides continuing to accuse each other of violating agreements and threatening regional security.
The destruction of the tunnel network represents another major Israeli effort to target Hezbollah’s underground military infrastructure. At the same time, the scale of the demolition and the resulting seismic tremor have highlighted the extensive nature of the underground facilities that Israel says Hezbollah had constructed beneath southern Lebanon.