JERUSALEM, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Israel said Tuesday it had struck and destroyed two Hezbollah tunnels in southern Lebanon, part of what it described as a broader effort to dismantle the group's underground infrastructure near the Israeli border.
The Israeli military said the tunnels, located in the Qantara area about 10 kilometers from the border, stretched a combined length of about 2 kilometers and formed part of a larger underground network.
It said the tunnels were built with assistance and direct guidance from Iran, but provided no evidence.
According to the military, troops found weapons, living quarters, water tanks, and equipment for prolonged stays inside the tunnels. The tunnels were used mainly to house Hezbollah operatives, with one containing about 10 sleeping rooms, it said.
The military also said it discovered shafts linking the tunnels to positions equipped with launchers aimed at Israeli territory.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said a "massive explosion" rendered the tunnels inoperable.
He said the strike was part of Israel's wider campaign to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure above and below ground in what Israel calls a "security zone" inside Lebanese territory, extending to the Litani River, deep inside Lebanese territory.
Israel is technically in a ceasefire with Lebanon under a U.S.-mediated deal, but its military operations inside Lebanese territory have continued as it accuses Hezbollah of violations. ■
