Israel Claims Decimation of Hezbollah Underground Base
Israeli forces say they destroyed a large underground complex run by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The strike used more than 1,000 tonnes of explosives to blow up two tunnels spanning over 2km beneath the Ali Taher Ridge.
The explosion triggered seismic activity that the US Geological Survey described as equivalent to a 4.1‑magnitude earthquake. Residents described a fireball that lit up the sky and a terrifying sound that shook houses.
The Israeli military claimed the underground infrastructure housed a command centre used by Hezbollah’s Badr unit, dozens of rockets, missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as anti‑tank weapons, mines and explosives. The strike was said to eliminate the terrorists inside the complex or push them to flee.
The destruction is part of a larger mission to destroy eight tunnels and establish a security zone in the area. The Israeli forces have carried out additional operations in northern and central southern Lebanon while taking control of the ridge last week after months of fighting with the Iran‑backed group.
This action follows a ceasefire agreement signed in June between Israel and Hezbollah, though fighting persists with frequent Israeli strikes elsewhere in the south. Lebanon remains home to thousands of displaced people, with many unable to return to the territories held by Israeli forces. The conflict began on 2 March after Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in retaliation for a strike that killed the Iranian supreme leader, leading to a large Israeli invasion of the south and occupation of roughly 5% of Lebanese territory.
