TEL AVIV, Israel — For nearly a year, Israeli forces have dedicated significant resources to dismantling Hamas’ extensive underground networks in Gaza. Their current objective has shifted to targeting the tunnel systems and concealment sites of Hezbollah militants located in southern Lebanon.
After experiencing a devastating assault by Hamas last year that ignited the conflict in Gaza, Israel is keen on ensuring that such a scenario does not repeat itself along its northern frontier.
Over the past two weeks, Israeli troops have scoured the dense vegetation of southern Lebanon, revealing what they claim to be Hezbollah’s combat capabilities, which include a sophisticated tunnel network stocked with weaponry and rocket launchers. Israel asserts that these installations pose a grave risk to nearby civilian populations.
The ongoing conflict against the Iran-aligned militant group extends deep into Lebanese territory, with Israeli airstrikes in recent weeks reportedly claiming over 1,700 lives—approximately a quarter being women and children, as noted by local health officials. However, the ground offensive has largely concentrated on a small stretch along the border where Hezbollah has established a longstanding presence.
Hezbollah, widely regarded as the most powerful paramilitary force in the Arab world, has a longstanding commitment to the elimination of Israel. Following Hamas’ attack, the group began launching rockets into Israeli territory. In response to almost a year of reciprocal violence, Israel initiated its ground incursion into southern Lebanon on October 1, deploying thousands of troops into the challenging terrain.
Israeli officials maintain that the offensive comprises “limited, localized and targeted ground raids” aimed at crippling Hezbollah’s infrastructure to enable the safe return of tens of thousands of displaced Israelis. However, this conflict has also displaced over one million Lebanese residents within the past month.
Many inhabitants of southern Lebanon have historically supported Hezbollah and have benefited from its social programs. While most have evacuated amid the escalation, there is a prevailing sentiment of allegiance to the heavily armed group, particularly as the Lebanese military, backed by the U.S., lacks adequate firepower to safeguard them against Israeli attacks.
This widespread support has facilitated Hezbollah’s establishment of a significant military presence in the villages of southern Lebanon. Israeli forces have reported discovering arms caches hidden in residential areas.
In a strategic adaptation to Israel’s superior aerial capabilities, Hezbollah has developed an intricate network of underground tunnels to evade detection by drones and aircraft. Analysts indicate that these tunnel systems are not confined to the southern region.
“It’s a land of tunnels,” noted a researcher specializing in Hezbollah security, emphasizing the extensive nature of the digging operations. Observations suggest that tunnels run beneath the southern suburbs of Beirut, where the group’s leadership coordinates its activities and stores missile stockpiles. Additionally, Hezbollah has constructed tunnels along its border with Syria, facilitating the smuggling of arms and supplies from Iran into Lebanon.
Scholars have determined that the southern part of Lebanon serves as both a storage area and launch site for missiles. The group has launched anti-tank missiles that have claimed lives, including some of the more than 50 Israelis killed by Hezbollah in the past year.
Unlike Hamas’s tunnels in Gaza, which are excavated in sandy soil, Hezbollah’s subterranean structures are carved into solid rock, suggesting a significant investment of time, resources, and technical skill.
Israeli military officials have stated that previous intelligence has allowed them to uncover “hundreds and hundreds” of tunnel openings, typically large enough to accommodate ten combatants and stocked with supplies. The official, who opted for anonymity in accordance with military policy, indicated that Israeli forces are systematically demolishing these tunnels or filling them with cement to neutralize their use.
Hezbollah previously utilized tunnels during the month-long conflict with Israel in 2006, but their network has reportedly expanded since, despite a U.N. resolution aimed at restricting Hezbollah’s operations in the region.
In mid-August, the group published a video showcasing a large underground tunnel through which trucks laden with missiles could traverse. Footage displayed Hezbollah operatives riding motorcycles within this illuminated tunnel, named Imad-4 in honor of the group’s late commander, who was killed in Syria in 2008.
The extensive tunnel networks pose implications for Israel’s military campaign, as ground forces equipped with tanks and engineering tools continue to engage in operations that have struck thousands of targets since the invasion commenced.
Israeli officials recently identified a cross-border tunnel extending minimally into Israeli territory that lacked an opening. They also uncovered a tunnel shaft in close proximity to a U.N. peacekeeping post, although its purpose remains uncertain.
These tunnels reportedly serve as storage for weapons and supplies, equipped with lighting, ventilation, and plumbing systems, hinting at their potential for prolonged use. Several Hezbollah operatives have been arrested within these tunnels, with some found armed. Observers note a decrease in the visible presence of Hezbollah fighters in the area.
A retired Lebanese general noted that the tunnels might be impeding Israeli advances, drawing parallels to Hamas’s underground operations in Gaza that have hindered Israeli forces.
Israeli authorities are adamant that their mission in Lebanon is yielding positive results, claiming to have killed hundreds of Hezbollah fighters since the launch of the ground operations, although at least 15 Israeli soldiers have also lost their lives during this period.
Israel has encountered Hezbollah’s tunnel networks in the past, notably in 2018 when operations were carried out to demolish tunnels crossing into Israeli territory. Analysts previously identified several tunnels, including one measuring a kilometer in length.
The tunnels are interpreted by Israel as evidence of a planned attack, possibly mirroring the October 7 incursion. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated on the day of the intervention that Hezbollah had openly declared intentions to execute a massacre similar to that perpetrated by Hamas, but on a larger scale along Israel’s northern border.
Although Israeli authorities have yet to present evidence of an imminent attack, they remain vigilant against the likelihood of one occurring upon the return of displaced residents. Although he was killed by Israel last month, former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah indicated in prior speeches the group’s readiness to launch an assault on northern Israel.
In May 2023, just months before the Hamas attack, Hezbollah conducted a military simulation involving an incursion into northern Israel, featuring armed militants on motorcycles breaching a mock border fence adorned with Israeli flags. Hezbollah leaders have at times framed calls for action against Israel as necessary defensive measures in times of conflict.