Israel to thwart Hezbollah tunnels

The Israeli military launched an operation yesterday to “expose and thwart” tunnels built by the Hezbollah militant group that it says stretch from Lebanon into northern Israel.

The tunnels are not operational, the military said, adding that its work to find and neutralise them was taking place inside Israeli territory.

But the operation could send tensions soaring between Israel and its Iranianbacked foe, who have both been preoccupied with other conflicts since their last conflagration more than a decade ago.

“We see Hezbollah’s activities as a flagrant and blatant violation of Israeli sovereignty” and of UN resolutions, said Lt. Col Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman. “This activity is another example of the negative effects of Iranian entrenchment in the region.”

The military did not disclose how many tunnels snake into Israeli territory from Lebanon or what tools it was using to deal with the threat, although it said the operation could last for weeks. The Israeli occupation regime has spent years attempting to tackle a network of tunnels from Gaza into Israel and has used a variety of methods to destroy tunnels and prevent them from being rebuilt.

A Lebanese military official told The Associated Press that Lebanese troops and military intelligence agents, along with UN peacekeepers deployed in southern Lebanon, were observing the border yesterday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, had no further details.

Israel has been using earthmovers and other large machinery to build a massive wall along its northern border, saying the barrier is needed to protect civilians from Hezbollah attacks.