IDF destroys two massive Hezbollah "staging" tunnels in Qantara built with Iranian funding and expertise

The IDF confirmed the destruction of two massive Hezbollah tunnels in Qantara, built with Iranian guidance for a planned invasion of northern Israel.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 1:12 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel

A Decade of Iranian-Guided Underground Construction

The demolition of the Qantara tunnel system marks a significant blow to Hezbollah's long-term offensive infrastructure in southern Lebanon. According to military reports released today, the tunnels were constructed over a ten-year period under the explicit technical guidance of the Iranian regime. Reaching depths of 25 meters, the infrastructure was designed to "Iranian standards," utilizing sophisticated engineering to remain hidden while supporting hundreds of personnel. The IDF’s 36th Division executed the raid approximately 10 kilometers from the Israeli border, following what officials described as "precise intelligence" gathered during the ongoing campaign against the terror group.

Strategic Staging Grounds for a Galilee Invasion

Military analysts believe the Qantara tunnels were the cornerstone of Hezbollah’s "Conquer the Galilee" plan, an invasion strategy that aimed to infiltrate Israeli territory with hundreds of operatives simultaneously. Unlike defensive bunkers, these tunnels were optimized for staging; they featured ten separate living quarters equipped with bunk beds and long-term residency supplies. This setup would have allowed elite Hezbollah units to remain submerged and undetected for weeks, preparing for a surprise surge into northern Israeli towns. The IDF confirmed that while the invasion plans never materialized, the tunnels were fully operational at the time of their discovery.

Integrated Weaponry and Rocket Launching Shafts

Inside the underground labyrinth, Israeli troops located a massive cache of weapons and advanced communications equipment. Most notably, the tunnels featured specialized rocket-launching shafts containing launchers already aimed at Israeli civilian centers. This dual-purpose design allowed the facility to act as both a troop barracks and an active artillery site. The IDF’s engineering units noted that the tunnels were part of a broader subterranean web spanning across the towns of Rab al-Thalathin and Mays al-Jabal, which the military has been systematically dismantling throughout its 2024 and 2026 operations.