IDF takes over Hezbollah tunnel with all kinds of prizes

The discovery of yet another vast Hezbollah tunnel complex in southern Lebanon serves as a reminder of a reality that many in the international community prefer to ignore. While diplomats speak endlessly of ceasefires, resolutions, and understandings, Hezbollah has spent years doing something rather more concrete: preparing for war. 

[Source: The Jerusalem Post.]

On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces announced that soldiers from the 91st Division's 551st Brigade had seized a massive Hezbollah tunnel in Majdal Zoun, roughly 10 kilometers inside southern Lebanon. The underground facility stretched some 200 meters in length and descended 25 meters below the surface. Most significantly, it contained four rocket-launching shafts that had been repeatedly used to target Israeli communities.

The tunnel's design highlights the sophistication of Hezbollah's military infrastructure. The launch shafts were reportedly difficult, if not impossible, to eliminate through airstrikes alone. By taking direct control of the site, Israeli forces were able to neutralize a threat that had been carefully concealed beneath the ground and beyond the reach of conventional aerial operations.

During the operation, the IDF said it killed 20 Hezbollah terrorists, including 10 members of the elite Radwan Force. Israeli troops also seized or destroyed approximately 50 pieces of terrorist infrastructure and weaponry, including drones, anti-tank missiles, munitions stockpiles, and observation posts.

Footage released by the military revealed a striking arsenal hidden beneath Lebanese soil, including large rockets capable of striking deep into Israeli territory. Additional video from the Yahalom special unit of the Combat Engineering Corps showed a labyrinthine complex consisting of 12 separate rooms and operational sections, underscoring the scale of Hezbollah's preparations.

It is difficult to reconcile such discoveries with the persistent fiction that Hezbollah is merely a political movement. No political party requires a subterranean military network complete with rocket-launching facilities, anti-tank weaponry, and specialized assault units. These are the tools of an organization preparing for conflict on a significant scale.

Meanwhile, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir visited troops in southern Lebanon and offered a blunt assessment of the current situation.

“The ceasefire that was announced is shaky, and we need to be ready with the highest preparedness to renew our military actions, and to thwart the threats, including quickly transitioning to go on the attack if required.”

“All of the IDF’s resources are dedicated to this,” he added.

Zamir's remarks reflect a lesson Israel learned at immense cost on October 7. The belief that hostile forces can be deterred indefinitely while they continue to arm themselves, entrench themselves, and prepare for war has proven disastrously false.

According to Zamir, Israeli forces have succeeded in placing Hezbollah on the defensive not only around Majdal Zoun but also in strategically significant areas such as Ali Taher Ridge and Beaufort Castle, where additional tunnel networks and terrorist infrastructure have been targeted.

He also praised the soldiers of the 401st Armored Brigade, which has suffered the loss of several senior commanders in recent months, for maintaining operational readiness across multiple fronts.

The broader significance of the operation extends beyond the destruction of a single tunnel. Every such discovery exposes the enormous discrepancy between Hezbollah's public posture and its actual conduct. While international actors repeatedly urge restraint upon Israel, Hezbollah continues to invest extraordinary resources into military fortifications, offensive capabilities, and preparations for future conflict.

The question is not why Israel continues to dismantle such infrastructure. The more pressing question is why the existence of these elaborate networks continues to surprise anyone.

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IDF gets Hezbollah terrorist's goat--or rather gives him 72 goats as a reward in Lebanon strike

The Israeli military said Saturday it carried out a targeted strike in Lebanon that killed Ali Hassan Shaib, whom it identified as a member of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force intelligence unit who operated under the guise of a journalist to support attacks against Israeli forces, Arutz Sheva reported.

According to the IDF, Shaib was affiliated with Hezbollah’s Radwan Force and worked for years posing as a journalist for the Al-Manar network while gathering intelligence on Israeli troop positions in southern Lebanon and along the border.

The military said he maintained ongoing contact with other terrorists in the Radwan Force and across the broader Hezbollah organization.

The strike took place Saturday afternoon, with the IDF describing Shaib as actively involved in exposing the locations of Israeli soldiers during ongoing operations.

The military said he continued these activities even during Operation Roaring Lion, reporting on IDF troop movements in southern Lebanon.

In addition to intelligence activities, the IDF said Shaib used his position to promote Hezbollah messaging and incite against Israeli troops and civilians by disseminating propaganda materials.The military framed the operation as part of its broader campaign against Hezbollah, which it said has joined attacks on Israel while operating in coordination with Iran.

“The IDF will continue to operate with determination against Hezbollah, which chose to join the attacks on Israel and operate on behalf of the Iranian terror regime,” a statement read. “The IDF will not allow harm to the residents of Israel.”

The announcement comes amid ongoing Israeli operations in southern Lebanon tied to Operation Roaring Lion, as fighting continues along the northern front.

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IAF strikes 'Hezbollonians' in Lebanon

On Thursday, an Israeli Air Force drone obliterated a terrorist from Hezbollah’s Radwan Force in Mais al-Jabal, southeastern Lebanon—a precise strike in a region teetering on the edge. This came hot on the heels of the IDF neutralizing another Hezbollah operative, one caught skulking near the border, gathering intelligence with malign intent.

Knesset member Ohad Tal, of the Religious Zionism party, spoke to JNS on Monday with a clarity that cuts through the fog of war. “With regard to Lebanon, I believe the situation is evolving in the right direction,” he declared. And he has reason to think so. Since March, Israel has unleashed over 100 strikes in Lebanon, dispatching roughly 100 Hezbollah fighters into oblivion. Remarkably, Hezbollah has not retaliated. Silence from a group known for its venomous defiance is telling.

Tal points to a broader shift. “Since March alone, we’ve carried out over 100 strikes in Lebanon, eliminating approximately 100 Hezbollah fighters, and they have not responded. Additionally, we’re seeing increasing support within the new Lebanese government for dismantling Hezbollah,” he said. In Beirut, a quiet revolution unfolds: Hezbollah’s flags are being torn down, posters of their slain terror chief Hassan Nasrallah vanish from the streets. “Just a few months ago, these actions would have been unimaginable—but they’re actually happening now,” Tal observed, his words carrying the weight of a man witnessing history pivot.

Behind closed doors, whispers of normalization with Israel are growing louder. Hezbollah’s iron grip on Lebanon is loosening—its power and influence eroding like a sandcastle against the tide. “Behind the scenes, there are even discussions about possible normalization with Israel. Hezbollah is steadily losing its grip on Lebanon, both in terms of power and influence, and I believe that’s a positive development for everyone,” Tal asserted.

He dares to envision a future where Lebanon and Israel might be more than adversaries. “Lebanon and Israel could become good neighbors with shared economic interests. Lebanon is not like some of the other countries in the region; there are secular communities and Christians. Not everyone is a radical Shi’ite Muslim. I believe there is a real opportunity for normal life on both sides of the border. I truly hope we can achieve that,” he said. It’s a bold vision, one that challenges the cynics and demands we consider the possibility of peace in a region long defined by its absence.

Tal’s words are not mere optimism; they are a call to recognize a shifting reality. Hezbollah, once an untouchable force, is faltering. Lebanon, with its mosaic of communities, is not doomed to be a perpetual battleground. The question is whether this moment will be seized—or squandered.

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The IAF shoots down Houthi missiles fired from Lebanon

On Friday afternoon, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) shot down a missile launched by Houthi terrorists in Yemen before it could enter Israeli airspace. The military said this was the fourth attack of this kind that week.

Early Saturday morning, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) intercepted three rockets fired by terrorists in Lebanon targeting Metula, a town in Galilee. Three other rockets didn’t make it across the border into Israel. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Home Front Command didn’t change its instructions for civilians.

The IDF fired artillery at the launch site and later hit dozens of Hezbollah targets in Southern Lebanon. The Lebanese terrorist group denied being behind the rocket attack. After the incident, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir reviewed the situation.

This was the first rocket attack from Lebanon since a ceasefire on November 27 ended over a year of fighting with Hezbollah. That conflict started when Hezbollah joined Hamas against Israel the day after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack.

“The rocket fire launched this morning toward the Galilee constitutes a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon and is a direct threat to the citizens of the State of Israel. The State of Lebanon bears responsibility for upholding the agreement,” the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit stated.

Metula’s mayor, David Azoulai, said that of the eight percent of residents who returned after the November ceasefire, some left again after this rocket attack.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said on Saturday, “Government of Lebanon is the party responsible for everything taking place within its territory. Israel will not allow any harm to its citizens and its sovereignty—and will do everything in its power to ensure the safety of the citizens of Israel and the communities of the North.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz added, “We will not allow a reality of fire from Lebanon on Galilee communities. We have promised security and that is exactly what will happen.” He also warned, “The fate of Metula is the same as Beirut,” holding the Lebanese government accountable for attacks from its land.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese Armed Forces posted on X that they found and dismantled three basic rocket launchers north of the Litani River, between Kfar Tebnit and Arnoun, southeast of Nabatieh. They said they’ll keep working to control the situation in southern Lebanon.

Since the ceasefire officially ended on February 18, the IDF has occasionally targeted Hezbollah in Lebanon. On Thursday, they hit Hezbollah rocket launchers in Southern Lebanon and underground sites in the Beqaa Valley. “The IDF will continue to operate to remove any threat to the State of Israel and prevent any attempt by the Hezbollah terrorist organization to rebuild its forces,” the military said.

On Sunday, the IDF attacked a Hezbollah elite Radwan Force command center in Southern Lebanon. Earlier that day, they confirmed gunfire from Lebanon likely hit a parked car near the Avivim border moshav, with no injuries reported.

Last week, Defense Minister Katz said Israeli troops will stay at five key outposts in Southern Lebanon “indefinitely.” These are near Labbouneh (opposite Shlomi), Jabal Blat (opposite Zar’it), hills opposite Avivim, Malkia, Margaliot, and Metula.

On March 11, Israel and Lebanon began talks to settle border disputes, meeting in Naqoura with U.S., French, and Lebanese representatives. They set up three working groups to focus on the five Israeli-controlled points in Southern Lebanon, the U.N.’s Blue Line border and its 13 disputes, and Lebanese detainees held by Israel.

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IAF kills Hezbollah Radwan Commander

On August 17, 2024, the IDF carried out a strike on Hussein Ibrahim Kasseb, a commander of Hezbollah's Radwan Force. According to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, an IAF drone targeted and eliminated Ibrahim while he was riding a motorcycle in southern Lebanon. The Radwan Force is a special unit within Hezbollah trained for operations aimed at infiltrating northern Israel.

The strike occurred amid an escalation of hostilities, as Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets into northern Israel. In total, the IDF reported that Hezbollah fired 55 rockets, resulting in two men being hospitalized with light to moderate injuries. The missile attacks also ignited several fires, which the Israel Fire and Rescue Services managed to extinguish.

Shortly after this operation, the IDF confirmed the successful hit on Ibrahim. This confirmation came soon after a correspondent for the Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese news agency Al-Mayadeen reported that Hezbollah had launched over 40 rockets in two successive salvos towards the Galilee region.

Hezbollah later claimed responsibility for a strike on Kibbutz Ayelet Hashahar, stating it was a retaliation for an Israeli air strike on Nabatiya early Saturday.

According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, the air strike in Nabatiya allegedly resulted in six fatalities and three injuries initially, with the updated figures from Lebanon’s state NNA news agency reporting 10 killed and four wounded. NNA stated that all the victims were Syrian citizens and indicated that a final death toll would be confirmed following DNA tests to identify the victims.

Local reports, cited by Ynet, suggested that the strike targeted the home of a family of 12, and among the casualties were reportedly children. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in the strike.

Lebanon’s MTV reported that Hezbollah forces were hindering journalists from accessing the sites affected by the strike.

The IDF also reported that earlier in the day, two soldiers were injured by projectiles fired from Lebanon, which landed in the Misgav Am area.

One soldier sustained severe injuries, while the other was lightly wounded.

On Saturday morning, the IDF disclosed that the IAF had struck a Hezbollah building in the Hanin and Marun al-Ras area and a warehouse near Nabatiya overnight. Additionally, the IDF fired artillery shells in the Ramish, Lavona, Kfar Shuba, and Aita al-Sha’ab areas in southern Lebanon.

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