Israeli forces have intensified efforts to dismantle Hezbollah's expansive underground network in southern Lebanon, following nearly a year of military operations targeting Hamas in Gaza. Scarred by last year’s deadly Hamas raid, which triggered the Gaza war, Israel is now focused on preventing a similar incursion from Hezbollah across its northern border.
For the past two weeks, the Israeli military has combed the dense terrain of southern Lebanon, uncovering what it describes as Hezbollah’s sophisticated tunnel system, armed with weapons caches and rocket launchers. Israeli officials assert these tunnels pose a direct threat to nearby communities.
Hezbollah’s underground tactics
“Hezbollah has openly declared that it plans to carry out its own Oct. 7 massacre on Israel’s northern border, on an even larger scale,” Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated. This refers to a potential attack on northern Israel that mirrors the bloody offensive Hamas launched on Oct. 7. While Israel has not produced evidence of an imminent strike, the threat looms large in Israeli strategic calculations.
Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group, has called for Israel’s destruction and began firing rockets into Israel after Hamas' attack. Hezbollah’s infrastructure in southern Lebanon includes a network of tunnels, dug into solid rock, designed to evade Israel's superior air power. The group has long relied on these underground routes to transport weapons and militants, allowing them to elude Israeli surveillance and strikes.
“It’s a land of tunnels,” said Tal Beeri, director of research at The Alma Research and Education Center. He explained that Hezbollah's tunnels stretch from southern Lebanon to the suburbs of Beirut, where the group's command and control are located, as well as along the Syrian border for arms smuggling.
The battle on the ground
Israel’s ground invasion into southern Lebanon, launched on October 1, has been marked by targeted raids aimed at Hezbollah positions. According to an Israeli military official, hundreds of underground positions have been uncovered, some stocked with rations and capable of holding about ten fighters. The official added that Israeli troops have been systematically destroying these tunnels using explosives and cement.
Israel’s mission in Lebanon, while limited in scope, has killed hundreds of Hezbollah fighters, according to Israeli authorities, though at least 15 Israeli soldiers have also lost their lives. The campaign has led to widespread displacement, with over 1 million Lebanese residents fleeing the south in the past month.
Despite the intensity of the ground operation, Israeli forces have encountered stiff resistance from Hezbollah’s fortified tunnels. Lebanese military expert Naji Malaeb noted that Hezbollah's network has hindered Israeli advancements, comparing their use of tunnels to Hamas' insurgent tactics in Gaza. “The tunnels are playing a critical role in slowing down Israel's progress,” he said.
Hezbollah’s stronghold
Hezbollah’s presence in southern Lebanon is deeply rooted. The group enjoys significant support from local communities, which benefit from its social services and see it as a defender against Israeli aggression. This support has allowed Hezbollah to build a military infrastructure within villages, with weapons stored in homes, according to Israeli reports.
Eva J Koulouriotis, a political analyst specialized in the Middle East, highlighted the group's extensive tunnel network under southern Beirut and along the Syrian border, which is used for arms smuggling. Koulouriotis explained that Hezbollah's tunnels not only serve as storage sites for missiles but also as potential launch points for future attacks.
The war’s toll
The conflict has exacted a heavy toll on Lebanon. Over 1,700 people, including women and children, have been killed by Israeli airstrikes in recent weeks, according to local health authorities. Hezbollah has continued to retaliate with rocket fire, killing more than 50 Israelis in the past year, many of whom were struck by anti-tank missiles launched from Hezbollah's tunnels.
As the conflict drags on, the Israeli military remains focused on neutralizing Hezbollah's underground capabilities. On Saturday, Israel announced that it had destroyed over 50 tunnel shafts, though it did not specify the timeline. In 2018, Israel conducted a similar operation to destroy Hezbollah's cross-border attack tunnels, discovering six tunnels, including one that stretched 1 kilometer into Israeli territory.
The road ahead
The Israeli military's campaign in southern Lebanon underscores its determination to prevent another deadly incursion like the one launched by Hamas. Yet, with Hezbollah's fortified tunnel network and deep support within Lebanese society, Israel’s mission faces significant challenges.
For the past two weeks, the Israeli military has combed the dense terrain of southern Lebanon, uncovering what it describes as Hezbollah’s sophisticated tunnel system, armed with weapons caches and rocket launchers. Israeli officials assert these tunnels pose a direct threat to nearby communities.
Hezbollah’s underground tactics
“Hezbollah has openly declared that it plans to carry out its own Oct. 7 massacre on Israel’s northern border, on an even larger scale,” Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated. This refers to a potential attack on northern Israel that mirrors the bloody offensive Hamas launched on Oct. 7. While Israel has not produced evidence of an imminent strike, the threat looms large in Israeli strategic calculations.
Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group, has called for Israel’s destruction and began firing rockets into Israel after Hamas' attack. Hezbollah’s infrastructure in southern Lebanon includes a network of tunnels, dug into solid rock, designed to evade Israel's superior air power. The group has long relied on these underground routes to transport weapons and militants, allowing them to elude Israeli surveillance and strikes.
“It’s a land of tunnels,” said Tal Beeri, director of research at The Alma Research and Education Center. He explained that Hezbollah's tunnels stretch from southern Lebanon to the suburbs of Beirut, where the group's command and control are located, as well as along the Syrian border for arms smuggling.
The battle on the ground
Israel’s ground invasion into southern Lebanon, launched on October 1, has been marked by targeted raids aimed at Hezbollah positions. According to an Israeli military official, hundreds of underground positions have been uncovered, some stocked with rations and capable of holding about ten fighters. The official added that Israeli troops have been systematically destroying these tunnels using explosives and cement.
Israel’s mission in Lebanon, while limited in scope, has killed hundreds of Hezbollah fighters, according to Israeli authorities, though at least 15 Israeli soldiers have also lost their lives. The campaign has led to widespread displacement, with over 1 million Lebanese residents fleeing the south in the past month.
Despite the intensity of the ground operation, Israeli forces have encountered stiff resistance from Hezbollah’s fortified tunnels. Lebanese military expert Naji Malaeb noted that Hezbollah's network has hindered Israeli advancements, comparing their use of tunnels to Hamas' insurgent tactics in Gaza. “The tunnels are playing a critical role in slowing down Israel's progress,” he said.
Hezbollah’s stronghold
Hezbollah’s presence in southern Lebanon is deeply rooted. The group enjoys significant support from local communities, which benefit from its social services and see it as a defender against Israeli aggression. This support has allowed Hezbollah to build a military infrastructure within villages, with weapons stored in homes, according to Israeli reports.
Eva J Koulouriotis, a political analyst specialized in the Middle East, highlighted the group's extensive tunnel network under southern Beirut and along the Syrian border, which is used for arms smuggling. Koulouriotis explained that Hezbollah's tunnels not only serve as storage sites for missiles but also as potential launch points for future attacks.
The war’s toll
The conflict has exacted a heavy toll on Lebanon. Over 1,700 people, including women and children, have been killed by Israeli airstrikes in recent weeks, according to local health authorities. Hezbollah has continued to retaliate with rocket fire, killing more than 50 Israelis in the past year, many of whom were struck by anti-tank missiles launched from Hezbollah's tunnels.
As the conflict drags on, the Israeli military remains focused on neutralizing Hezbollah's underground capabilities. On Saturday, Israel announced that it had destroyed over 50 tunnel shafts, though it did not specify the timeline. In 2018, Israel conducted a similar operation to destroy Hezbollah's cross-border attack tunnels, discovering six tunnels, including one that stretched 1 kilometer into Israeli territory.
The road ahead
The Israeli military's campaign in southern Lebanon underscores its determination to prevent another deadly incursion like the one launched by Hamas. Yet, with Hezbollah's fortified tunnel network and deep support within Lebanese society, Israel’s mission faces significant challenges.
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