Conflict & Security
Israel warns of more Hezbollah strikes after tunnel blast
Israel said on Friday it was prepared for more strikes on Hezbollah after blowing up what it described as a large tunnel network beneath the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon.
“We are ready and prepared to continue the campaign, to continue striking Hezbollah and at additional locations,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a video message.
Israel said the tunnels contained a Hezbollah command centre, living quarters and weapons stocks intended for attacks on northern Israel and Israeli troops. The Israeli army said the network extended for more than two kilometres and held Iranian-made rockets, missiles and drones, as well as other weapons.
A large fireball was seen in the area after the blast, and the United States Geological Survey recorded a tremor equivalent to a 4.1-magnitude earthquake. Israel announced last week that it had seized the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge as it strengthened control of a self-declared security zone in southern Lebanon.
Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir said in a video message that “any attack on the communities in northern Israel or on the IDF troops defending them will be met with an immediate and forceful response.” Referring to talks about possible Lebanese army deployment in parts of southern Lebanon, he said the Lebanese army “must demonstrate effectiveness on the ground” or progress on an Israel-Lebanon agreement would not be possible.
Lebanese authorities say Israeli military operations in Lebanon have killed more than 4,300 people since March. Israel says the Ali al-Taher tunnels were built over two decades with help from Iran, which backs Hezbollah.
Update
Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir warned that any attack on northern Israeli communities or Israeli troops would receive an immediate and forceful response.
Zamir said the Lebanese army must show effectiveness on the ground in southern Lebanon for an Israel-Lebanon agreement to advance.
Israel's defence minister said the security zone in southern Lebanon allows Israel to maintain control and threaten Hezbollah deeper inside the area.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 September 2026 at 11:57:23 UTC.
Update
Israel's defence minister said Israel was ready for more strikes on Hezbollah after the tunnel detonation.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 September 2026 at 10:22:35 UTC.
Update
A witness in Majayoun told AFP that everything shook during the explosions.
A source close to the parties told AFP the United States had proposed during negotiations that Lebanon's army take control of the Ali al-Taher ridge, but Hezbollah refused.
The item adds that Hezbollah had supported Iran in the Middle East war and that a lull followed a June understanding between Iran and the United States and an agreement between Lebanon and Israel.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 20:28:06 UTC.
Update
AFP journalists reported a huge explosion that caused tremors.
The Israeli defence ministry released images showing a fireball erupting into the sky.
The latest supplied wording says the US Geological Survey registered the earthquake after the explosions, rather than independently establishing causation in the text provided.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 19:30:03 UTC.
Update
The US Geological Survey said Israel's demolition of infrastructure in Lebanon caused a 4.1-magnitude earthquake.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 19:19:54 UTC.
Update
The Israeli army said the underground infrastructure extended for more than two kilometres.
The Israeli army said it contained Iranian-made rockets, missiles, UAVs, machine guns, anti-tank missiles, mines and explosive devices.
The Israeli army said the compound included a command centre of Hezbollah's “Badr” unit.
An Israeli military official said some militants had abandoned the ridge area and others were eliminated by aerial strikes and artillery fire.
The source adds context that the United States had proposed Lebanese army control of the ridge during negotiations, according to a source close to the parties, but Hezbollah refused.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 18:59:37 UTC.
Update
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that Israel carried out a massive explosion on the Ali al-Taher ridge in the Nabatieh region, causing tremors and a loud rumble.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 18:47:38 UTC.
Update
Israel said the demolished infrastructure was on the Ali al-Taher ridge in south Lebanon.
A joint statement by Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Katz said the infrastructure had been built over two decades with Iranian funding and planning.
The statement said the destruction completed Israeli operational control over the Ali al-Taher ridge above and below ground.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 18:30:25 UTC.
Update
Israel said it destroyed Hezbollah underground infrastructure in south Lebanon.
Source note: AFP news report published on 10 September 2026 at 18:21:35 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The supplied material does not include a Hezbollah response to Israel's latest statements.
The tunnel contents and their intended uses are stated by Israel and are not independently verified in the supplied material.
The outcome of talks on Lebanese army deployment in southern Lebanon remains unresolved.
Source
AFP news report published on .