even in the face of Israel’s almost year-long conflict with Hamas in Gaza following the attacks on October 7.
Over the past 20 years, Hezbollah, an Islamic terrorist group with long-standing support from Iran, has created a network of tunnels spanning more than 100 miles in total length throughout southern Lebanon.
The tunnels’ existence has been known for decades, but during the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza, terrorists have not only relied on them for operational rearmament and maneuvering capabilities, but also to house weapons. This has highlighted the significant role that the tunnels play in arming Hezbollah.
According to a report by the nonprofit Alma Research and Education Center, which studies Israeli security challenges along its northern border, Hezbollah’s tunnels are thought to be far more sophisticated and “significantly larger,” despite the fact that it is estimated that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have destroyed roughly 80% of Hamas’ tunnels. These tunnels have remained mostly unexplored since the start of the Gaza War.
