The IDF began Sunday to place special underground sensors along the Lebanese border to detect any tunnels dug by Hezbollah or other terror groups in an attempt to infiltrate into Israel.
The deployment comes almost a year after Operation Northern Shield, during which the IDF detected and neutralized six tunnels dug by Hezbollah with the intent of sending terrorists through them.
IDF engineers and drills have begun digging along the Israeli side of the northern border near Kibbutz Misgav Am.
Army officials said there is no information regarding fresh Hezbollah attempts to dig new tunnels and that the deployment is merely a preventative measure.
The area around Misgav Am will be the first place the new technology will be implemented due to its proximity to the Lebanese border; other spots will also be considered, subject to security and budget assessments.
The sensor system, which uses seismic and acoustic devices, will alert to any tunnels that are dug close to the border, but in a limited capacity.
"We want to prevent any 'calculative mistakes' since the construction work can be seen on both sides of the border," said IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Hidai Zilberman.
"This is insurance for the future. We have no intelligence that Hezbollah is renewing their efforts. The construction work will last for the next few months."
IDF officials stated that no units will be redeployed to the construction sites where the sensors are being placed, so as to endure full defense along the northern border and to avoid disruptions to the IDF operation tasked with strengthening defenses in the area.
In May 2019, the IDF destroyed Hezbollah's "flagship" cross-border tunnel using 600 trucks and thousands of cubic gallons of concrete.
The tunnel, more than 80 meters deep, was dug from the Lebanese Shiite village of Ramyeh towards the Western Galilee, near the communities of Shtula and Zar'it.
As well the primary tunnel, five other smaller digs were uncovered during Northern Shield - two in the Ramyeh area and three more near the northern border town of Metula, not far from the Lebanese village of Kfarkela.
The IDF says that there are no tunnels remaining.