The IDF destroyed a large Hezbollah tunnel in southern Lebanon on Tuesday evening, minutes after issuing an unusual warning to residents along the northern border that the blast would be heard across wide areas.
The warning was sent to communities from Rosh Hanikra on the Mediterranean coast to the Golan Heights in the east. The tunnel, located near the village of Qantara, was the largest found so far in southern Lebanon and was destroyed shortly after 6 p.m.
IDF destroys massive Hezbollah tunnel in southern Lebanon
Meanwhile, amid the fragile ceasefire with Lebanon, sirens sounded in Misgav Am in the Galilee Panhandle, minutes before the planned detonation. Interceptors were launched at suspicious aerial targets in the area where IDF forces are operating in southern Lebanon, the military said. The results of the interception were under review. The IDF said the sirens were triggered over concerns that interceptor fragments could fall in the area.
Earlier, interceptors were launched from the Kiryat Shmona area toward a suspicious aerial target, in what the IDF described as another Hezbollah breach of the ceasefire. The military said the target was identified in an area where Israeli forces are operating in southern Lebanon.
The IDF said the results of that interception were also under review and added that “the target did not cross into Israeli territory. In accordance with policy, no alerts were activated.”
Hezbollah also launched several explosive drones that detonated near IDF troops in southern Lebanon, south of the yellow line. No injuries were reported.
Interceptors launched from Kiryat Shmona area toward suspicious aerial target
(Video: from social media )
Suspicious aerial target intercepted over Misgav Am
(Video: from social media )
At 5:30 p.m., following the IDF notice about the planned tunnel demolition, residents of Misgav Am, Manara, Margaliot and Metula were instructed to stay indoors and stay away from large windows until after the explosion. Residents of Kiryat Shmona and Kfar Giladi were advised to open windows in homes and buildings and stay away from large panes of glass. People in open areas were not required to take shelter.
The IDF update was relayed to local authorities, including the Ma’ale Yosef Regional Council, which told residents that Northern Command would “destroy a large weapons infrastructure located during the war and prepared in recent days for detonation.”
“The echoes of the explosion may be heard throughout the Galilee and even in the Golan,” the council said.
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Interceptors launched from Kiryat Shmona area toward suspicious aerial target
(Photo: from social media)
A similar detonation in the past mistakenly triggered an earthquake alert. This time, residents were told that the national seismic system was being monitored and that no earthquake alarm would be activated. However, the notice said that in schools and private institutions with independent earthquake alert systems, sirens could sound.
“At this stage, the event does not affect the general defense guidelines, and there is no change in the situational assessment,” the notice said.
The update was also sent to Kiryat Shmona. Mayor Avichai Stern stressed that the blast was part of a planned IDF operation in southern Lebanon. He urged residents to avoid standing near windows and balconies and to open windows to reduce possible damage from the blast wave.