Inside Hezbollah’s Secret Tunnels: A Hidden Threat to Israel

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As I entered the Hezbollah tunnel, which extended from an opening in Israel’s Galilee region, the air was thick with dust. The passage, uncovered by Israeli forces in 2019, spanned half a mile and was dug by Hezbollah fighters using handheld drills. Descending the narrow stairwell, past walls faintly lit by electric cables, it was astonishing to think such a massive structure was created manually, rather than by industrial equipment. Evidence of the labor was everywhere, with circular marks along the walls left by the drills. It must have taken countless hours for Hezbollah’s men to construct this hidden tunnel.

This video was released yesterday by Hezbollah, the Iranian-Backed Lebanese Terror Organization.

Hezbollah's extensive tunnel network poses a grave danger not only to Israel but also to the people of Lebanon.

By embedding its military infrastructure in civilian areas (schools,… pic.twitter.com/qWMLKAiGHv

— David Saranga (@DavidSaranga) August 17, 2024

 

After several minutes of walking, we reached the tunnel’s end, blocked by rubble where Israeli forces had sealed the pathway into Lebanon. It was May 2020, and though the possibility of a full-scale Israeli invasion into Lebanon was uncertain, the tunnel provided insight into the daunting terrain Israeli troops might face in the future. This tunnel was just one piece of Hezbollah’s extensive network, which is estimated to stretch for hundreds of kilometers beneath Lebanon, posing a significant challenge to Israeli forces.

 

The sophistication and secrecy of the tunnel were remarkable. As Colonel Roi Yosef Levy of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) told me during the tour, “[It took] 14 years to build, and only a few people inside Hezbollah knew about it.” Israel believes that, had the tunnel not been discovered, Hezbollah might have used it for a surprise attack, possibly to capture hostages and transport them back into Lebanon.

 

Since its discovery, experts believe Hezbollah has expanded the tunnel network, making it even more formidable. This system, which can hide troops, transport supplies, or launch attacks, includes underground missile facilities and command centers like "Imad 4," named after Hezbollah’s late military chief, Imad Mughniyeh. The network is said to be inspired by similar tunnels in Iran and North Korea, and some are concealed beneath villages in southern Lebanon, complicating any Israeli military operation. As Ronen Solomon, an Israeli intelligence analyst, explained, attacking the tunnels could trigger a broader war. “If Israel is to attack the tunnels, Israel needs to attack buildings, and doing that, especially in Beirut, will be the start of a war,” he said.

 

There are different types of tunnels in Hezbollah’s arsenal: offensive tunnels along the border, logistical tunnels for moving supplies, and those for storing missiles and air defense systems. They even have tunnels beneath civilian infrastructure, such as football fields and homes, making them harder to target. Hezbollah’s tunnels are only one element of their vast weaponry. Their missile stockpile is believed to be far more advanced than what Hamas has in Gaza, with thousands of missiles capable of reaching deep into Israel, including Iranian-made Fateh-110 and Syrian-made M-600 short-range ballistic missiles. 

 

In 2006, Hezbollah shocked Israel when they managed to reverse-engineer Israel’s Spike anti-tank missile, with Iran creating their own version called the Almas missile. This missile, like the original, can be launched from various platforms and poses a serious threat to Israeli forces stationed near the border. Hezbollah has also fired smaller rockets, such as Falaq-1, Falaq-2, and Katyusha artillery rockets, since early October 2023. In 2006, they used the Iranian Fajr-5, but their current arsenal is even more formidable.

 

Despite international efforts after the 2006 war to disarm Hezbollah, the group has only strengthened its military capabilities with the help of Iran and other regional allies. Israeli military experts now view Hezbollah as a far more dangerous adversary than ever before, with trained ground forces numbering around 100,000, including 20,000 full-time combatants. Hezbollah’s tunnel network and missile stockpiles have become an integral part of its strategy, making any future conflict with Israel a complex and deadly proposition. According to former Israeli national security adviser Yaakov Amidror, Israel’s biggest mistake was not addressing the growing threat from Hezbollah sooner. “Before 2006, Israel was addicted to the quietness and was not ready to make any efforts to prevent Hezbollah from building its military capabilities,” he reflected.

 

As tensions rise, the tunnel I visited in 2020 is a reminder of the vast and hidden dangers Israel may face. Colonel Levy, who would later lose his life in the October 7 Hamas attack, summed up the situation grimly: “You need to hate Israel very much to build these things.”

 

 

Based on a report from: Daily Telegraph 2024-09-28

 

 

 

[Tug]

I’m sure Israel will figure out how to locate and exterminate any one foolish enough to try to use them.science and the pressing need will find a way to deal with it.

[thaipo7]

1 hour ago, Tug said:

I’m sure Israel will figure out how to locate and exterminate any one foolish enough to try to use them.science and the pressing need will find a way to deal with it.

Whose side are you on?  Anti-Semitic Marxist Democrats or Israel.  You can't be both.  You sound like Harris now.