Israel claims destruction of extensive Hezbollah underground base in southern Lebanon
Israel says it has destroyed a major underground complex operated by Hezbollah beneath the Ali Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military used more than 1,000 tonnes of explosives to destroy two tunnels spanning over 2 km (1.2 miles) underground, the IDF said on Telegram.
The blast triggered seismic activity equivalent to a magnitude 4.1 earthquake, according to the United States Geological Survey, but the Lebanese government and Hezbollah have yet to comment publicly.
Israeli forces took control of the ridge last week after months of fighting with the Iran‑backed group there, and now maintain a “security zone” in the area as part of a ceasefire framework.
Residents near the site reported the explosion as a “terrifying” event; one local said the sky lit up first, then a deep, echoing roar shook houses and caused people to flee toward Beirut. Tremors were felt as far north as Saida, 40 km from the site.
The IDF said the facility housed a command centre for Hezbollah’s Badr unit, dozens of rockets, missiles, UAVs, anti‑tank weapons, mines and explosives – all built over two decades and allegedly funded by Iran.
According to the IDF, all militants were either eliminated or forced out, and the strike “completed a mission to destroy eight tunnels and establish a security zone.”
The incident comes amid renewed Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon, with fresh strikes reported elsewhere in the region. The Lebanese army has increased deployments outside Israeli control, citing the need to support stability.
On 2 March, the wider Lebanon–Israel conflict was triggered when Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel following an Israeli strike that killed Iran’s supreme leader. Israel retaliated with a campaign that occupied roughly 5 % of Lebanese territory.
Although a ceasefire agreement between Iran and the US and a separate Lebanon–Israel framework were signed in June, fighting has continued, leaving 4,362 Lebanese dead and 40 Israeli soldiers killed. Hezbollah has rejected direct negotiations under the agreement and has not engaged directly with the process.
These events underscore the ongoing tensions in southern Lebanon, with both sides conducting operations that threaten civilian areas and raise concerns about long‑term stability.
