WhatsappIn a development that underscores the long-term strategic threat posed by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the discovery and destruction of two major आतंक tunnels in the town of Qantara—an operation that military officials say reveals years of coordinated planning between Hezbollah and Iran.
According to the IDF, the tunnels were constructed over the course of more than a decade, reaching depths of approximately 25 meters underground. Spanning a combined length of nearly two kilometers, the twin tunnels—though not physically connected—represent one of the most extensive underground systems uncovered by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon to date.
But the scale of the project is only part of the story. Israeli military officials state that the tunnels were built with “direct guidance” from Iran and funded by what they describe as the Iranian terror regime. The implication is clear: this was not a local initiative, but part of a broader regional strategy designed in Tehran and executed on Israel’s northern border.
The IDF believes the tunnels were intended to serve as a forward staging ground for a future Hezbollah invasion into northern Israel, specifically targeting the Galilee. In such a scenario, hundreds of operatives would have moved through the tunnels, assembled inside fortified underground chambers, and prepared for coordinated assaults on nearby Israeli communities. These invasion plans, for now, never materialized—but the infrastructure was already in place.
The tunnels were located in Qantara, roughly 10 kilometers from the Israeli border, and are believed to be part of a wider subterranean network extending into nearby towns such as Rab al-Thalathin and Mays al-Jabal—areas that saw significant Hezbollah activity during the 2024 conflict.
Troops from the 36th Division carried out the operation following what the IDF described as “precise intelligence.” The tunnel entrances were carefully concealed, indicating a high level of operational discipline and long-term intent. Inside, Israeli forces discovered weapons caches, logistical supplies, and living quarters designed for prolonged stays. One of the tunnels reportedly included ten separate rooms, each equipped with multiple bunk beds—suggesting the capacity to house dozens, if not more, fighters at a time.
Perhaps most concerning were the rocket-launching shafts embedded within the tunnels, with launchers already positioned and aimed toward Israeli territory. This indicates that the tunnels were not merely defensive or logistical, but part of an offensive architecture intended to combine infiltration with sustained rocket fire.
Military officials noted that the construction adhered to “Iranian standards,” reinforcing the assessment of direct Iranian involvement not just in funding, but in design and operational doctrine.
In a decisive final step, the IDF deployed approximately 450 tons of explosives to destroy the tunnel systems, effectively neutralizing what it described as a significant strategic asset for Hezbollah.
From a broader perspective, the discovery raises deeper questions about the evolving nature of Hezbollah’s military capabilities—and the extent to which Iran continues to shape the battlefield from afar.
