The IDF revealed it is operating against a significant underground Hezbollah infrastructure site near Tebnit, over a kilometer long, with dozens of operatives surrounded. Fighting is ongoing both above and below ground; the military links the pressure on Hezbollah in the area to an increase in rocket fire in recent days.
The IDF on Saturday evening at 21:22 Jerusalem provided new details on the Tebnit tunnel operation, confirming the underground network is over a kilometer long and that dozens of Hezbollah operatives are surrounded inside. Fighting continues both above and below ground. The military stated that Hezbollah's recent increase in rocket fire is directly linked to the pressure the group faces in the Tebnit sector, and emphasized, "We are not going back and there is no withdrawal."
As first reported by The Zioneer at 20:36 Jerusalem (Sat), the IDF had confirmed it was battling Hezbollah around a major underground site in the area with dozens of operatives trapped. The earlier report, citing Israeli media, described the tunnel as over a kilometer long and noted clashes above and below ground. Tonight's briefing is the first official, on-record confirmation from the IDF Spokesperson, upgrading the story from an initial media report to a military-provided operational update.
The Tebnit operation is part of a broader IDF campaign in southern Lebanon. Background context shows that ground fighting and Hezbollah ambushes in the Kfar Tebnit area were reported as early as Fri Jun 19 (The Zioneer, 16:08 Jerusalem). IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi stated on Sun Jun 14 (The Zioneer, 16:18 Jerusalem) that ground maneuvers aim to deepen Hezbollah's erosion ahead of U.S.-mediated talks. The military has also been striking Hezbollah infrastructure across southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley in recent days (The Zioneer, Jun 10-19).
The Zioneer's earlier report at 20:36 Jerusalem was based on an Israeli media account; tonight's IDF briefing provides the first official confirmation. No further details have been released on the number of operatives, the exact location of the tunnel entrance, or the timeline for completing the operation.
2 developments
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Source and signal
- Internal intake