The short version
- Israeli forces used over 1,000 tonnes of explosives to destroy a two-kilometer tunnel network beneath the Ali Taher Ridge.
- The blast caused widespread tremors felt across southern Lebanon and triggered panic among local residents fleeing toward Beirut.
- This operation occurs while Israeli troops maintain control of roughly five percent of Lebanese territory despite a June ceasefire agreement.
Israeli military forces announced the destruction of a substantial underground infrastructure network operated by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, utilizing more than one thousand tonnes of explosives. The targeted complex included two tunnels spanning over two kilometers beneath the Ali Taher Ridge, an area Israeli troops secured following months of intense combat. According to the United States Geological Survey, the detonation generated seismic activity equivalent to a magnitude 4.1 earthquake, underscoring the scale of the operation.
Residents in nearby communities reported immediate and disorienting effects from the blast. In Nabatieh, located approximately six kilometers west of the ridge, locals described the sky lighting up before a terrifying sound followed fifteen seconds later. Witnesses stated that houses shook violently, prompting widespread fear and causing many families to flee their homes for Beirut. The tremors were significant enough to be felt in Saida, a coastal city situated forty kilometers north of the explosion site.
The Israel Defense Forces characterized the destroyed infrastructure as strategic assets built over two decades with funding and planning attributed to Iran. Military statements indicated that the complex housed a command center for Hezbollah’s Badr unit, along with dozens of rockets, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, anti-tank weapons, mines, and explosives. The IDF claimed that all individuals inside the facility were either eliminated or forced to flee during the operation.
This action represents the completion of a broader mission aimed at destroying eight tunnels and establishing what Israel describes as a security zone in the region. Israeli forces currently occupy a significant portion of southern Lebanon, having expanded operations against Hezbollah positions since the conflict resumed in March. The military maintains that these measures are necessary to secure the border area and neutralize threats posed by the Iran-backed group.
The incident unfolds against a backdrop of fragile diplomatic progress. Fighting had decreased following a ceasefire deal between Iran and the United States in June, accompanied by a separate agreement between Lebanon and Israel. Under this framework, Hezbollah is expected to disarm, Israeli forces are scheduled to withdraw gradually from southern Lebanon, and the Lebanese army is tasked with deploying across the vacated areas to restore stability.
However, implementation of these agreements remains incomplete and contested. Hezbollah has rejected direct negotiations and was not a signatory to the agreement, complicating efforts to enforce disarmament. Despite the reduction in large-scale fighting, Israeli strikes and demolitions have continued in southern Lebanon, including fresh attacks reported in Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Mansouri in the Tyre district on Thursday.
In response to the ongoing instability, the Lebanese army has increased its deployments in areas outside Israeli control. Local television reports indicate that these moves are intended to strengthen stability and reassure residents who remain vulnerable to sporadic violence. The presence of Lebanese forces aims to fill the security vacuum left by the partial withdrawal of international and regional actors.
The human cost of the conflict continues to mount. Lebanon’s health ministry reported that at least 4,362 people have been killed in Lebanon since the war began on March 2, when Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel following a strike that killed Iran’s supreme leader. These figures include 395 women and 259 children, though the ministry does not differentiate between combatants and civilians. Israeli authorities report forty soldier deaths and four civilian fatalities.
No immediate public response emerged from Hezbollah or the Lebanese government regarding the specific destruction of the tunnel complex. The lack of comment leaves uncertainty about the operational status of remaining Hezbollah forces and their ability to regroup. As Israeli forces maintain their presence in roughly five percent of Lebanese territory, the region remains on edge, with the potential for renewed escalation despite diplomatic frameworks designed to de-escalate tensions.
The destruction of the Ali Taher Ridge tunnels highlights the persistent challenges in achieving a lasting peace in southern Lebanon. While diplomatic agreements provide a roadmap for disarmament and withdrawal, the continued use of heavy explosives and military occupation suggests that trust between parties remains low. The coming weeks will likely reveal whether these military actions serve as final measures or precursors to further conflict.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC News↗Israel says it has destroyed major underground Hezbollah base
