The tunnel network was intended not just for surveillance, but also to facilitate attacks on Israeli troops and communities near the Lebanon border.
The destruction of Hezbollah's underground tunnel network in the Beaufort area and additional infrastructure along the Ali al-Taher Ridge using hundreds of tons of explosives dealt a severe strategic blow to the terrorist organization, according to data presented to Defense Minister Israel Katz on Sunday.
According to senior officers in the IDF Northern Command, the military had been aware for years of the underground tunnels constructed by Iran and Hezbollah in the area.
"For years we knew about the underground system that the Iranians and Hezbollah had excavated there," the officers said. "We understood that it was intended not only for surveillance and intelligence gathering but also to support direct fire against Israeli communities and military positions. Only after conducting a comprehensive survey of the network did we realize how critical it was to Hezbollah's operational plan for attacking Israel."
The officers added that an even greater concern is that similar underground infrastructure remains in southern Lebanon and has yet to be located or destroyed by the IDF.
"The assessment is that the Lebanese Armed Forces are incapable of dealing with these sites," they said. "If the IDF does not receive authorization from the political leadership because of American restrictions, Hezbollah will continue to retain strategic assets."
A security official said that Israeli Military Intelligence and the Northern Command had gained a much deeper understanding of the scope of the project.
"They came to understand the process the Iranians led in southern Lebanon, how sensitive it was to Hezbollah's operational plan to capture the Galilee and hold territory, and how it was connected to other underground sites," the official said.
"It was no coincidence that not all of the infrastructure was interconnected. That created a sophisticated operational concept for striking Israel. They were prepared to remain entrenched in these underground facilities for months while continuing to fire at Israel."
Meanwhile, Northern Command officers stressed that the IDF has strengthened its operational grip on Hezbollah activity centers in southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire.
According to a preliminary investigation into a recent clash involving the Egoz Unit of the Commando Brigade, troops identified Hezbollah operatives emerging from an underground compound whose entrance had been concealed. The operatives were reportedly on their way to collect food that had been left in the area by another Hezbollah cell.
Egoz troops prepared an ambush and opened fire on the operatives. During the exchange, however, an Egoz officer was moderately wounded.
The incident will be the first operational investigation led by the newly appointed division commander, Brig.-Gen. Manny Liberty, who will examine the sequence of events and draw operational lessons.