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IDF shares footage of Hezbollah living quarters in underground tunnels in south Lebanon
The Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday released what it described as “exclusive footage” showing living quarters allegedly used by Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon, as tensions between Israel and the Iran-backed group continue despite a fragile ceasefire.Sharing the video on X, the IDF said its troops had carried out special operations in the Litani area, south of what it called the “Forward Defense Line”, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure.“WATCH: Exclusive footage of living quarters used by Hezbollah terrorists,” the Israeli military wrote.The IDF claimed that more than 100 military targets were struck during the operations, including “compounds used by Hezbollah terrorists”, underground tunnel routes allegedly containing large quantities of weapons, weapons storage facilities and missile launchers.The Israeli military further said its troops “struck and eliminated dozens of terrorists in close-quarters combat, alongside aerial support.”
Drone war intensifies despite ceasefire
The latest footage comes amid an escalating drone conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, even as diplomatic efforts continue over the wider Iran conflict.As per Reuters, Hezbollah has increasingly relied on low-cost First Person View (FPV) kamikaze drones in recent months to target Israeli forces stationed in southern Lebanon.
The group has published videos of more than 45 FPV drone attacks since fighting intensified in March. Many of the attacks have continued even after a shaky ceasefire was announced in April.Hezbollah’s drones are often controlled using fibre-optic cables, allowing them to evade Israeli jamming systems and strike military positions, vehicles and troops.The truce has still left Israeli forces operating inside a buffer zone extending up to 10 kilometres from the border, making them vulnerable to such attacks, the report said.
Israel says Hezbollah drones remain a growing threat
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously acknowledged that Hezbollah’s drone capabilities pose a serious challenge.“A few weeks ago, I ordered the establishment of a special project to thwart the drone threat... It will take time, but we are on it,” Netanyahu said on May 3.Israeli military officials quoted by Reuters said Hezbollah’s drones are difficult to intercept because they are small and fly “low and slow” across terrain familiar to Hezbollah operators.Israeli think tank ALMA also noted that Hezbollah’s use of drone footage has created a “significant psychological impact”.
Hezbollah says attacks meant to pressure Israel
Hezbollah believes continued drone attacks could pressure Israel into withdrawing troops from southern Lebanon faster than ongoing negotiations.“We know the enemy's supremacy, but we also know their points of weakness,” Hezbollah media relations chief Youssef el-Zein told reporters, according to Reuters.
“We are taking advantage of the points of weakness to create that balance.”Experts cited by Reuters said Hezbollah’s drones are largely assembled using commercially available parts, many sourced from Chinese manufacturers, with some modified to carry anti-tank warheads.The ongoing conflict in southern Lebanon remains closely tied to broader US-Iran tensions, with mediators warning that failure to de-escalate in Lebanon could reignite wider regional hostilities.
