Tel Aviv, Israel – As part of its ongoing operations within the security zone in southern Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday the successful destruction of two additional Hezbollah tunnel routes. This coincided with the discovery of a large weapons cache in the vicinity of the village of Majdal Zoun. The IDF confirmed that these actions are part of a broader strategy to undermine the group’s military infrastructure, which poses a threat to the security of Israeli civilians and soldiers.
Operation details: fortified tunnels and weapons arsenal
According to a statement issued by the army, the operation was led by forces from the 551st Paratroopers Brigade in cooperation with the elite Yahalom Engineering Unit. The statement explained that the discovered tunnels extended for approximately 200 meters and reached depths of up to 20 meters underground. Searches within these fortifications revealed furnished living quarters. Three rocket launchers aimed at Israel were also found, along with large quantities of shells, machine guns, explosive devices, and RPGs. The army described the area as heavily fortified and containing extensive Hezbollah infrastructure. It noted that its forces had eliminated a Hezbollah operative in the vicinity of these tunnels during the past week.
Operations continue despite the shaky truce
In a related development, the Israeli military confirmed on Friday that its operations in the security zone in southern Lebanon are ongoing to ensure the elimination of any future threats. It also emphasized that it “will not allow Hezbollah to harm Israeli civilians.” The statement added that forces operating in other sectors of the security zone also succeeded in identifying and destroying additional weapons installations. These installations were intended for launching attacks.
These field operations come at a time when the Lebanese front is witnessing a noticeable decrease in the intensity of large-scale confrontations. However, tension remains high, with sporadic airstrikes resulting in casualties. Both sides accuse each other of violating the ceasefire reached on June 26th, a “framework agreement” brokered by the United States. This agreement followed five rounds of negotiations aimed at ending the war. Despite these diplomatic efforts, the Israeli side insists that continuing its operations to clear and dismantle Hezbollah’s infrastructure remains a top priority. This is intended to ensure the security of the northern border.
