The Israeli army announced on Thursday that it had destroyed more than two kilometres of a tunnel network about 5.5 kilometres long in Ali al-Taher Heights in southern Lebanon, which it said belonged to Hezbollah. Israeli sources said the forces were preparing to leave the heights while remaining at positions that would allow them to control the area.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the army was destroying Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure in Ali al-Taher Heights. The army said the destruction of the underground facilities completed what it described as operational control over the site above and below ground.
1100 tons of explosives and dozens of bodies
Israeli sources said the army used 1100 tons of explosives to destroy the tunnels and had operated inside them after taking control of them about a month ago. They added that the forces had found dozens of bodies inside the tunnels, which they said belonged to Hezbollah fighters.
Israeli reports said the army was considering several scenarios for responding to the Ali al-Taher explosions, as the forces prepared to leave the heights and deploy at positions that would allow control of the area to continue.
Underground facilities and weapons depots
The army said troops from the 36th Division destroyed the underground routes after an extensive preparatory operation and after achieving what it described as operational control over the heights above and below ground. It added that the operation aimed to prevent Hezbollah from using the facilities to plan and carry out attacks against Israelis and army forces.
The statement added that the site contained a central command complex belonging to Hezbollah’s Badr Unit, with rooms for command and control, weapons storage and accommodation, allowing combat operations to be managed and personnel to remain inside for long periods. The army described the facilities as strategic infrastructure built over two decades with Iranian funding and planning.
