Israel’s military used over 1,100 tonnes of explosives to destroy a two-kilometer Hezbollah tunnel network beneath the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon. Officials stated the operation completed a security zone in the area. The underground complex, which took about two decades to build with Iranian support, contained command centers, weapons storage, living quarters, and Iranian-made military equipment including rockets, missiles, drones, anti-tank weapons, and mines.
The massive blast caused a 4.1 magnitude tremor recorded by the US Geological Survey, shaking homes, shattering windows, and producing a bright flash followed by a loud boom fifteen seconds later. Residents shared imagery showing stripped vegetation and altered ridge shapes. Hezbollah officials disputed Israel’s characterization, stating the tunnels held no significant military assets, while Lebanese geophysicists noted the explosions were near active seismic fault lines.
Analysts viewed the demolition as a tactical setback for Hezbollah’s covert border operations, though not a decisive blow to its broader military capacity. The ridge is strategically valuable due to its elevation, which provided Hezbollah with surveillance and firing positions overlooking northern Israel. Regional analysts also raised concerns that the operation could spark renewed hostilities amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran.