Israel says it destroyed Hezbollah tunnels in Ali al-Taher ridge: What to know

On Thursday, Israel announced the demolition of key tunnels dug by Iran-backed Hizbollah beneath the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, which resulted in a 4.1 magnitude tremor. Journalists from AFP heard multiple explosions in the area, and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz shared a video of a massive fireball rising into the night sky.

This comes a few days after Israeli authorities claimed to have taken control of the strategic ridge, stating that Hizbollah had built numerous tunnels there to attack Israel. Israeli troops are present in parts of southern Lebanon, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aims to establish a security zone to prevent any attacks on the northern part of his country.

The tunnels were built over two decades with Iranian funding and planning, according to Netanyahu and Katz. The destruction completes the achievement of operational control over the Ali al-Taher ridge, both above and below ground, according to the Israeli statement. The tremor was confirmed by the United States Geological Survey.

AFP journalists in south Lebanon reported hearing huge explosions and felt everything shaking. Israeli authorities previously announced the capture of the Ali al-Taher ridge, where Hizbollah had an infrastructure that included over two kilometers of tunnels, Iranian-made rockets, missiles, UAVs, machine guns, anti-tank missiles, mines, and explosive devices.

A military official told AFP that some fighters had abandoned the area, while others were eliminated by aerial strikes and artillery fire. Hizbollah members had dug eight underground routes beneath the ridge, with dozens of explosive drones and hundreds of mines seized by the Israeli army. The conflict in Lebanon reignited in March when Hizbollah supported Iran, leading to increased strikes following the Middle East war.

The United States proposed that Lebanese authorities take control of the ridge during negotiations, but Hizbollah refused. Israeli strikes have resulted in over 4,300 deaths since March, and Israeli forces continue to occupy the security zone in southern Lebanon.