The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Friday that Israeli fighter jets struck a two-mile-long tunnel overnight, believed to be used by Hezbollah to smuggle Iranian weapons between Lebanon and Syria. According to the IDF, the tunnel, operated by Hezbollah’s Unit 4400, served as a critical route for transporting arms from Iran and its regional proxies into Lebanon.
The military reported that the strike not only destroyed the tunnel but also targeted and obliterated nearby weapons depots, buildings, and other associated infrastructure. This is the first time the IDF has publicly confirmed the destruction of such a tunnel between Lebanon and Syria.
In a separate operation, the IDF conducted another airstrike on infrastructure at Lebanon’s main border crossing with Syria, the Masnaa Border Crossing. The strike followed intelligence suggesting an attempted delivery of Iranian weapons to Hezbollah via the civilian route. Lebanese Transport Minister Ali Hamieh, who is affiliated with Hezbollah, told Reuters that the airstrike created a 12-foot crater near the crossing, effectively cutting off Lebanon’s primary connection to Syria.
Rockets Fired from Gaza Strip as Tensions Rise
Meanwhile, sirens blared in southern Israel on Friday for the first time in two months, as two rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip toward border communities. The IDF reported that one of the rockets was intercepted by air defense systems, while the second struck an open area, causing no injuries. The rocket fire further escalates the already tense situation along Israel’s northern and southern borders.
These developments reflect the intensifying regional conflict as Israel continues its military operations to prevent the flow of Iranian arms to Hezbollah, a key player in the region’s complex web of alliances and hostilities.
