JERUSALEM — The Israeli military said on Monday it had uncovered a large underground Hezbollah facility in southern Lebanon that it described as a drone production and launch site, adding that the complex was located beneath a civilian area and had been used to support attacks against Israel.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), troops operating in southern Lebanon discovered the facility during recent operations near the border. The military said the site included underground infrastructure used for storing, assembling and launching unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as weapons and military equipment. Israeli officials said the complex was built over several years with support from Iran.
The announcement comes amid continuing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border despite ceasefire efforts and diplomatic initiatives aimed at reducing hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement. Recent exchanges of fire, including drone attacks and Israeli strikes, have underscored the fragility of the security situation.
In a statement released by the military, the IDF said the facility formed part of a broader Hezbollah underground network designed to support operations against Israeli forces and communities in northern Israel. The military said soldiers found launch positions, weapons storage areas and infrastructure suitable for extended underground activity. Israeli forces are continuing efforts to dismantle the site, according to the statement.
“This is a large and extensive underground infrastructure network,” IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said in a video statement released by the military. He said the operation was intended to reduce Hezbollah’s military capabilities and address threats near the border.
The IDF did not provide independently verifiable evidence for all of its claims regarding the facility’s purpose, size or operational history. Details about when the complex became operational remain unclear.
Hezbollah had not immediately issued a detailed response to the latest Israeli announcement. The group has previously denied some Israeli allegations concerning military infrastructure in civilian areas, while acknowledging its role in operations against Israeli forces.
Lebanese authorities also did not immediately comment on the military's claims. The Israeli military has previously accused Hezbollah of embedding military infrastructure within civilian communities in southern Lebanon, an allegation that Hezbollah rejects.
The reported discovery follows other Israeli announcements in recent months regarding underground Hezbollah facilities in southern Lebanon, including tunnel networks and command sites uncovered during military operations. Israeli officials have said such facilities were used to store weapons, coordinate operations and launch drones and missiles.
As of Monday, Israeli forces said operations connected to the newly identified facility were continuing. No independent assessment of the site had been released, and the full extent of the underground complex remained unclear.
