Israel says ready for more strikes on Hezbollah after tunnel detonation

Jerusalem, Sep 11: Israel declared readiness for further strikes on Hezbollah following a powerful explosion that destroyed a complex of tunnels constructed by the Iran-aligned group in southern Lebanon, according to a defense minister's video statement. Minister Israel Katz vowed to continue the campaign against Hezbollah, targeting additional sites in the area.

The colossal blast occurred late Thursday, obliterating a vast network of tunnels under the Ali al-Taher ridge, a strategic location that housed Hezbollah's command center, accommodations, and weaponry capable of striking northern Israel. The tremor caused by the blast registered as a 4.1 magnitude earthquake, as per the US Geological Survey.

This came a week after Israeli forces claimed to have secured strategic highlands in southern Lebanon, thereby cementing their control over a security zone in the region. Katz assured that the security zone was now stronger than ever, capable of safeguarding nearby communities from potential attacks and enabling the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to maintain control and counter Hezbollah's operations deep within the area.

Eyal Zamir, chief of staff for the Israeli army, vowed that any hostile act against northern Israel or IDF troops defending the region would be met with an immediate, forceful response. He also cautioned that the Lebanese army's performance in southern Lebanon would be crucial for advancing an agreement between Israel and Lebanon.

Israel alleged that the tunnel network was constructed over two decades in collaboration with Hezbollah's sponsor, Iran, whose clerical government also supports Hamas in Gaza. Israel and the United States initiated military action against Iran in late February, escalating the Middle Eastern conflict. Hezbollah, originally established to protest a previous Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon that commenced in 1982, intervened in the broader conflict by launching rockets at Israel in solidarity with Iran.

Lebanese authorities reported that Israeli military operations in the country have resulted in over 4,300 casualties since March. The Israeli army further revealed that the Ali al-Taher network included tunnels stretching over two kilometers, housing dozens of Iranian-made rockets, missiles, and drones, along with other weaponry.

The ridge is situated on the periphery of Israel's self-proclaimed security zone, just a few kilometers away from the UNESCO-listed Beaufort castle, another strategic site captured by Israel recently.