Israel says it has destroyed major underground Hezbollah base

The Israeli military has confirmed that it has destroyed a major underground Hezbollah base in southern Lebanon, using over 1,000 tonnes of explosives to blast through two tunnels spanning more than 2km beneath the Ali Taher Ridge. The blast triggered seismic activity equivalent to a magnitude 4.1 earthquake, according to the US Geological Survey. Images released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) show a fireball lighting up the sky, with residents describing the scene as 'terrifying'. The IDF said the underground infrastructure included a command centre used by Hezbollah's Badr unit, containing dozens of rockets, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as anti-tank weapons, mines, and explosives. The destruction of the complex completes a mission to destroy eight tunnels and establish a 'security zone' in the area, according to the IDF. The Israeli military has been occupying a large swathe of southern Lebanon since last week, following months of fighting with the Iran-backed group. Hezbollah has yet to respond publicly to the attack. The Lebanese government has also remained silent on the matter. The IDF statement likened the infrastructure to 'strategic assets' constructed over two decades, funded and planned by the Iranian 'terror regime'. All of the terrorists believed to be inside the infrastructure were either eliminated or fled, according to the IDF. The destruction of the complex is seen as a significant blow to Hezbollah's capabilities in the region.