Hezbollah tunnels

An 80 meter deep Hezbollah tunnel seized by the IDF

Hezbollah's underground tunnels (or Hezbollah Tunnels Network or Hezbollah's Underground Facilities, Arabic: أنفاق حزب الله) refer to a network of underground passages[1] used by Hezbollah, primarily in southern Lebanon, along the Lebanon-Israel border.[2] These tunnels are often used for military purposes, such as smuggling weapons,[3] storing supplies,[1] and allowing fighters to move discreetly.[4] The tunnels have been a significant concern for Israel, which views them as a direct security threat.[5] The presence of tunnels near the so-called blue line, as well as incursions into Lebanese territory by other countries,[6] constitute a violation of UN Resolution 1701,[7] such violations contribute to the ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

History

Nicholas Blanford, a Beirut-based Hezbollah expert considers that Hezbollah's tunnel networks began in the mid-1980s[5] after the 1982 Lebanon War resulting from the invasion of Lebanon by Israel that led to the creation of the Hezbollah.[8] These tunnels were used shortly after launching its own military operations against the occupation state in the 1990s. However, the investment in tunnel construction has been increased since the early 2000s,[9] due partially to the armed conflict with the South Lebanon Army and military operations against Israeli military posts in occupied Lebanese territory, and particularly since the 2006 Lebanon War. Israel has conducted operations to locate and destroy these tunnels,[10] viewing them as a significant threat to its security.

Operation Northern Shield

In December 2018, Israel launched "Operation Northern Shield" to detect and destroy the tunnels.[11] In recent years, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have found and destroyed several tunnels crossing the border from Lebanon into Israel.[11][12]

UN involvement

With the resolution 1701 of the Security Council[13] agreed in 2006, the blue line was used to monitor the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and the activities of armed groups. The resolution states that the area must be free of arms and armed personnel except for the Lebanese armed forces and UN peacekeepers, and no foreign forces can be present in Lebanon without the consent of its government. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is responsible for ensuring compliance by all parties with this resolution and has reported violations of resolution UN 1701 by both sides, Israel and Hezbollah, according to the Security Council reports.[14]

The UNIFIL was able to confirm[15][16] the existence of only three of the tunnels that were reported by IDF.[11] UNIFIL also confirmed that an old concrete factory in Kfar Kela had an opening to the tunnel, which crossed the Blue Line.[17]

Purposes

These tunnels serve various purposes, including:

  • Military Operations: They allow Hezbollah fighters to move undetected and launch surprise attacks against Israeli forces.[4]
  • Smuggling: The tunnels are used for smuggling weapons and supplies, often circumventing Israeli surveillance.[3]
  • Shelter: They provide protection for fighters during airstrikes or ground operations.
  • Logistics: The network facilitates communication and transportation of goods and personnel.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Nashed, Mat. "Hezbollah's tunnel video threatens enemies but leaves much unknown". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  2. ^ Dov Lieber. "Israeli Special Forces Launch Raids Into Lebanon Ahead of Expected Ground Incursion".
  3. ^ a b "IDF Conducts Ground Invasion of Hezbollah Tunnels Near Israel-Lebanon Border". Oneindia.
  4. ^ a b Amble, Patrick Sullivan, John Spencer, John (2024-10-02). "Israel's Campaign against Hezbollah and the Fight for Southern Lebanon's Tunnels". Modern War Institute. Retrieved 2024-10-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ a b "What do we know about Hezbollah's tunnels?". France 24. 2024-08-22. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  6. ^ "Lebanon: Thousands of Israeli air incursions since 2007 cause widespread stress". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  7. ^ "Explainer: What is Security Council resolution 1701? | UN News". news.un.org. 2024-10-01. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
  8. ^ Daher, Aurélie (2019-07-15), "Hezbollah, Carrying on the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon: Crystallization of a New Militant Structure", Hezbollah, Oxford University Press, pp. 39–60, doi:10.1093/oso/9780190495893.003.0003, ISBN 978-0-19-049589-3, retrieved 2024-11-13
  9. ^ "Hezbollah tunnel construction began before 2006 Second Lebanon War — report". The Times of Israel.
  10. ^ ToI Staff. "Troops said to enter Hezbollah tunnels with pre-invasion forays into Lebanon". The Times of Israel.
  11. ^ a b c IDF Editorial Team. "Operation Northern Shield". www.idf.il. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  12. ^ Loveday Morris and Ruth Eglash. "Israel announces operation to destroy Hezbollah tunnels under its northern border". Washington Post.
  13. ^ "S/Res/1701(2006)". undocs.org. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  14. ^ Secretary-General, Un (2018-03-08). "Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) :: reporting period from 7 November 2017 to 28 February 2018". United Nations Security Council Reports.
  15. ^ "UNIFIL confirms a third tunnel crosses Blue Line". UNIFIL. 2019-04-25. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  16. ^ "UNIFIL technical team visits tunnel location near Metulla". UNIFIL. 2018-12-06. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  17. ^ "Update on investigation into cross-Blue Line tunnels". UNIFIL. 2018-12-28. Retrieved 2024-11-13.