The IDF announced it destroyed a significant portion of the Hezbollah underground tunnel network beneath the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon. The network, built over two decades with Iranian funding, served as a central command center for Hezbollah's Bader Unit and was used to launch UAVs, explosive drones, and anti-tank missiles toward Israeli forces and northern communities. The operation was carried out by the 36th Division under Northern Command.
The IDF's 36th Division, operating under Northern Command, destroyed a significant portion of Hezbollah's strategic underground tunnel network beneath the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon early Friday morning. The military described the network as a central command complex for Hezbollah's Bader Unit, funded by Iran and built over two decades. The tunnels, located approximately six kilometers from the Israeli town of Metula, were used to launch unmanned aerial vehicles, explosive drones, and anti-tank missiles against Israeli forces and northern communities.
The operation was first reported by Israeli media at 00:06 Jerusalem, with initial accounts stating that the IDF used 700 tons of explosives to demolish the tunnels. Shortly afterward, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the operation, saying it was carried out in response to a Hezbollah ceasefire violation — an explosive drone attack on an unmanned IDF bulldozer. The IDF then announced that the network served as a central command center for Hezbollah's Bader Unit, providing the most detailed account of the infrastructure's purpose. The source of information evolved from preliminary media reports to official confirmations from the political and military leadership.
The Beaufort Ridge tunnel network, described by the IDF as a multi-level underground city, was built with Iranian funding over more than a decade. As The Zioneer reported, the network included living quarters, medical facilities, and launch sites for UAVs and anti-tank missiles. The IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, stated earlier this month that Israeli forces control both the surface and the underground routes on the ridge, and that the network was a central pillar of Hezbollah's defensive strategy.
The IDF has not confirmed whether all tunnel routes in the Beaufort Ridge area have been neutralized. Operations continue at the nearby Ali Taher Ridge, and the military has not released further details on the extent of the remaining underground infrastructure.
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