Deep beneath the historic stones of southern Lebanon's Beaufort Castle, an extensive subterranean network built over two decades has been flattened. The Israel Defense Forces used roughly 700 tons of explosives to demolish the multi-layered bunker system. This wasn't just a simple hideout. It featured full living quarters, command hubs, firing positions, and even an underground operating room designed to coordinate cross-border strikes into the Galilee Panhandle.
Most casual observers miss the tactical reality of how the military pulled this off. Capturing the ridge wasn't a straightforward frontal assault. The 36th Division used a clever deception maneuver, feigning movement to the north while secretly punching through a stretch near the Litani bend that Hezbollah considered completely impassable. By the time the group realized what happened, armored units had already established operational control from above. For another look, check out: this related article.
Why the Beaufort Subterranean Complex Mattered
Location is everything in modern military strategy. Beaufort Ridge commands a sweeping view of northern Israel, making it an ideal staging ground for observation, anti-tank missile launches, and drone attacks. Hezbollah's Bader Unit treated this underground redoubt as a core command center.
Inside, troops found massive caches of weaponry, including Kornet missiles, RPG launchers, mortar rounds, and automatic rifles. Finding a fully functional field hospital tucked inside a mountain bunker shows the sheer scale of long-term preparation involved. The network was built to sustain fighters through extended sieges right on the border. Similar reporting on the subject has been published by The Washington Post.
The Broader Campaign Mechanics
Destroying tunnels on a map looks easy, but clearing them room by room is hazardous work. Elite engineering units like Yahalom, alongside the Commando Brigade, had to map out booby-trapped corridors while drones hunted down operatives attempting to flee. About 20 fighters were killed during the initial clearing operations around the underground shafts.
This demolition came in response to persistent violations along the security zone, highlighting how fragile current regional arrangements remain. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz made it clear that any hostile action targeting Israeli positions or infrastructure will draw an immediate, heavy response.
Operational control of Beaufort Ridge denies Hezbollah vital staging grounds, but military officials admit that clearing a single ridge doesn't neutralize an entire organization. Similar underground networks, such as the sprawling infrastructure beneath the Ali Taher ridge, remain under close watch as forces continue to dismantle remaining militant assets across southern Lebanon.
The physical destruction of the Beaufort tunnel network marks a permanent shift in the terrain's tactical utility. Ground forces maintain their presence within the security buffer zone, ensuring the area cannot be easily reoccupied or rebuilt.
Secret Hezbollah Tunnel Network Found Under Beaufort Ridge
This video provides an up-close look at the extensive underground tunnel network and military installations discovered beneath Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon.
http://googleusercontent.com/youtube_content/1
