Israel Destroys Hezbollah Tunnel Following U.S. Mediation Agreement, Lebanon Ceasefire Uncertain

Smoke rises from southern Lebanon near the Israeli border on June 28, local time. [Photo=EPA Yonhap News]

Israel has destroyed an underground military facility belonging to the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. This military operation occurred shortly after Israel and Lebanon signed a basic agreement to ease tensions, raising concerns about the implementation of a ceasefire along the Lebanese front.

According to Reuters, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued a joint statement on June 28, stating, "We struck a Hezbollah underground facility in the village of Majdal Zun in southern Lebanon."

The Israeli side described the facility as a 200-meter-long underground tunnel containing hundreds of weapons and launchers. They added that the United States was notified prior to the attack.

The Israeli military also conducted a drone strike in the Nabatiyeh area of southern Lebanon the previous day. Israel claimed that Hezbollah operatives posed a threat to its forces, and the operation aimed to eliminate military facilities, including rocket launchers.

Netanyahu stated that Israeli forces would continue to remain deployed in the security zone in southern Lebanon. He emphasized, "We will continue to destroy terrorist infrastructure, eliminate threats to residents along the northern border, and ensure the safety of the Israeli people."

Earlier, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the United States and Iran included a provision to cease military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon. However, clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have persisted since the MOU took effect on June 18.

In response, the U.S. mediated separate negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, leading to a peace agreement signed on June 26. The agreement allows for a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon while permitting them to remain in a security zone extending up to 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory for the time being.

However, there are concerns about the effectiveness of the agreement, as Hezbollah is not a party to it. Hezbollah's Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah has dismissed the agreement as a "surrender to Israel" and vowed to continue pressure until Israel fully withdraws from Lebanon.

* This article has been translated by AI.