'A sign of the tensions': Why a small tunnel sparked hysteria in Lebanon
When a passer-by stumbled upon a tunnel north-east of Beirut earlier this week, almost immediately alarm bells began ringing over fears it could be connected to Hezbollah. It was the latest in a series of recent incidents that have raised tensions in an uneasy and deeply divided Lebanon, where Hezbollah has resisted government pressure to disarm as part of a stalled plan to halt Israeli bombings…
A small tunnel discovered northeast of Beirut on October 19, 2026, triggered widespread alarm and speculation in Lebanon. The 13-meter-long tunnel, which extended five meters vertically and eight meters horizontally, contained no weapons or military equipment, but rather digging tools and several individual holes. The Lebanese army declared the tunnel to be a drop site for drug dealers, though no narcotics were found.
Speculation ranged from the tunnel being linked to Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia, to gold prospectors being responsible for its construction. A Lebanese security source noted that the discovery was a "sign of the tensions" in the country. The incident is one of several recent events that have heightened tensions in Lebanon, where Hezbollah has resisted disarming as part of a stalled plan to end Israeli bombings and occupation in the south.
Other incidents include the seizure of explosives and confrontations between youths and security forces in southern Beirut. Amidst the heightened tensions, Hezbollah has insisted that the explosives were only for use against Israel, a claim that has failed to quell fears. The Lebanese army faces pressure domestically and internationally for not doing enough to curb Hezbollah's arsenal.
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