Israeli forces surround Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon tunnel

Israeli forces have encircled Hezbollah fighters in a major underground tunnel complex in southern Lebanon, even as diplomatic pressures have reportedly constrained further military action against the extensive network. The developments highlight the complex battlefield and political landscape as Israel continues its military campaign against Hezbollah.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have surrounded dozens of Hezbollah operatives in a vast subterranean base in the village of Tebnit. Military sources describe a network of tunnels totaling over a kilometer in length, where an estimated 30 to 40 fighters remain, using the tunnels to set up ambushes and fire on Israeli troops above ground. Concurrently, the IDF recently showcased a separate, massive tunnel facility discovered in the nearby village of Majdal Zoun, which officials described as an underground drone factory and launch site built with direct Iranian assistance.

That facility, located just kilometers from the Israeli border and running several hundred meters into a mountain, contained around 50 Iranian-made attack drones and approximately eight tons of mines and bombs. The tunnel, wide enough for a vehicle and reaching...