Israel says it has destroyed major underground Hezbollah base

Israel's military announced the destruction of a significant underground complex run by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. To achieve this, they employed over 1,000 tonnes of explosives to obliterate two tunnels that extended more than 2km beneath the Ali Taher Ridge. The blast produced seismic activity equivalent to a magnitude 4.1 earthquake, as reported by the US Geological Survey.

Currently, there has been no official statement from Hezbollah or the Lebanese government. Israeli forces gained control of the ridge only recently, following months of conflict with the Iran-backed group there. The Israeli military now occupies a substantial portion of southern Lebanon, which was previously captured during the conflict that resumed in March.

Images released by the Israel Defense Forces depicted the aftermath of the explosion, showing a fireball illuminating the sky, followed by a terrifying sound that lasted for about 15 seconds. A resident of Nabatieh, located approximately 6km west of the ridge, described the impact as akin to an earthquake. People were screaming, children were crying, and traffic filled the roads as residents fled to Beirut.

Tremors were also felt in the coastal city of Saida, located 40km north of the ridge. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the underground facility included a command center used by Hezbollah's Badr unit, along with dozens of rockets, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, anti-tank weapons, mines, and explosives. The IDF described this infrastructure as strategically significant, having been constructed over two decades and funded by the Iranian terror regime.

They added that all terrorists within the infrastructure had either been eliminated or fled. The IDF claimed the destruction of the complex accomplished a mission to destroy eight tunnels and establish a security zone in the area. This action comes amidst ongoing fighting in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces have intensified operations against Hezbollah positions and maintain control over a security zone near the border.

Lebanese media reported additional Israeli strikes on Thursday, including in Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Mansouri in the Tyre district. The Lebanese army has increased its presence in areas outside Israeli control, such as the southern city of Nabatieh, to ensure stability and provide reassurance to residents, according to MTV, a local television station.

Lebanon entered the conflict between Israel, the US, and Iran on March 2 when Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel in response to a strike that resulted in the death of Iran's supreme leader. Israel retaliated with a bombing campaign across Lebanon and invaded a significant portion of Lebanese territory. Israeli forces currently control roughly 5% of Lebanese land.

The fighting decreased following a ceasefire agreement between Iran and the US in June, as well as a separate agreement between Lebanon and Israel. Under the Lebanon-Israel framework, Hezbollah is supposed to disarm, Israeli forces are gradually withdrawing from southern Lebanon, and the Lebanese army is to deploy across the area.

However, Hezbollah has not directly participated in the agreement and has rejected direct negotiations. Despite a reduction in fighting, Israeli strikes and demolitions in southern Lebanon have persisted. As of now, at least 4,362 people have been killed in Lebanon due to the conflict, including 395 women and 259 children, according to the health ministry. Israeli authorities report that 40 soldiers and four civilians have been killed.