IDF Strikes Hezbollah’s Cross-Border Tunnel in Overnight Operation
October 4, 2024 – In a major military operation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted an airstrike overnight, targeting a two-mile-long tunnel crossing the Lebanon-Syria border. According to the IDF, the tunnel was used by Hezbollah’s Unit 4400 to smuggle Iranian weapons into Lebanon. The tunnel, believed to be crucial in the group's arms transport operations, was destroyed, along with nearby buildings, weapon depots, and infrastructure.
The IDF’s strike marks the first public acknowledgment of destroying a cross-border tunnel between Lebanon and Syria. The military claims this move is part of an ongoing effort to disrupt the flow of arms from Iran to Hezbollah via Syria, intensifying over the past two weeks due to escalating regional tensions.
Hezbollah’s Weapon Transport System Targeted
Unit 4400, a Hezbollah cell specifically responsible for the transfer of weapons from Iran and its proxies, is said to have operated the tunnel. The destruction of this passage delivers a significant blow to the group's logistical operations. The tunnel was one of many methods Hezbollah allegedly uses to bypass international scrutiny and smuggle advanced weaponry from Iran.
In addition to targeting the tunnel, IDF fighter jets struck infrastructure at Lebanon’s main Masnaa border crossing with Syria. The military identified an attempted arms delivery through the civilian crossing and responded with airstrikes, which left a massive 12-foot crater at the site. This effectively sealed off Lebanon’s primary route to Syria.
Lebanese Transport Minister Ali Hamieh, a member of Hezbollah, confirmed the damage, adding that the strikes had disrupted civilian traffic at the crossing. Over 310,000 people, primarily Syrian refugees, have reportedly used this road in recent days to escape the intensifying conflict.
Escalation of Cross-Border Tensions
This latest airstrike comes amid an ongoing conflict in the region, with Hezbollah intensifying rocket fire into northern Israel. Over the past two weeks, more than 240 rockets have been launched, causing destruction and civilian casualties. IDF operations have responded with increased precision airstrikes aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s infrastructure in southern Lebanon and the Beirut area.
Earlier this week, a strike on Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in Beirut reportedly targeted senior figures, including Hashem Safieddine, the potential successor to Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah. The IDF has described these operations as "limited, localized, and targeted raids" with the goal of dismantling Hezbollah’s operational capacity in the border regions. To date, 26 Israeli civilians have died, along with 22 IDF soldiers. In contrast, the Hezbollah-led forces have sustained significant losses, with their top command suffering heavy casualties.
Continuing Israeli Operations
The strikes against Hezbollah coincide with a broader escalation following Israel's evacuation of 60,000 residents from its northern towns last month in response to fears of a large-scale Hezbollah attack. Israel’s northern border has since become a daily battleground, with both Hezbollah and IDF exchanging fire and mounting operations.
Israeli officials assert that these operations are essential to prevent further weapons transfers into Lebanon, maintaining that they will continue targeting Hezbollah’s supply routes from Iran. Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic spokesperson, reiterated Israel’s determination to prevent the smuggling of arms through Lebanese civilian infrastructure.
Humanitarian Impact and Regional Stability
The ongoing conflict has had a significant humanitarian impact, with thousands of people fleeing Lebanon and northern Israel due to escalating violence. Lebanon's already strained infrastructure is further hampered by damage to key transport routes, raising concerns over the country’s capacity to manage the crisis.
As the situation develops, the IDF continues to emphasize that their goal is to limit the duration of these operations while neutralizing immediate threats posed by Hezbollah. The broader question of regional stability and Hezbollah’s role in it remains central as the conflict shows little sign of de-escalation.
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