Visit of American Legislators to Hezbollah Tunnels in Israel; Voice of America Report on Conditions at the Lebanon Border

Amid rising tensions at the Israel-Lebanon border, 24 Democratic lawmakers from the U.S. recently visited the northern border of Israel with Lebanon, where the Israeli army discovered and blocked several cross-border tunnels of the armed group Hezbollah Lebanon a few years ago following the acquisition of a special technology. The discovery of Hezbollah's tunnels indicates the group's determination to conspire against Israel. The Israeli army announced the visit of this group of lawmakers on August 11 (20 Mordad) this year. The delegation was led by Hakeem Jeffries and Steny Hoyer. On August 13 (22 Mordad), Israeli publications reported an incendiary bomb explosion in the Metula border area that damaged water facilities and power cables. Israel did not respond to this action. In April, Israeli officials also announced that Hezbollah was responsible for a 'rare bombing' (roadside bombing) at the Megiddo intersection in March, which resulted in injuries to an Arab-Israeli. Reuters previously reported, citing the Israeli army, that security forces killed a man with an explosive vest after he apparently crossed from Lebanon into Israel and detonated a bomb near the Megiddo intersection in northern Israel on March 13. Jonathan Conricus, former international spokesperson for the Israeli army, described the current situation and the likelihood of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah to the Persian section of Voice of America, stating: 'The characteristics of today's situation include Hezbollah's hostile behaviors along the border, various provocative actions across the 'Blue Line' (the border marked by blue barrels), and the increase in bellicose statements by Nasrallah against Israel.' He said, 'The likelihood of conflict has somewhat increased in recent months, especially after the bombing at the Megiddo intersection (about 60 kilometers south of the Lebanon border), but it seems that both sides are still cautious to avoid the situation escalating into open conflict. Hezbollah continues to build precision-guided weapons in the Beirut and Baalbek areas (northeast of Beirut), which may destabilize the balance in the region.' The Hezbollah militia, which is on the terrorist lists of the U.S. and Israel, is considered by experts to be the most heavily armed militia group in the world, having received substantial support from the Islamic Republic. According to some estimates, the Islamic Republic spends $700 million annually on Hezbollah Lebanon. Providing such assistance, as well as similar aid from the Islamic Republic to other militia groups, is among the reasons the U.S. has placed Iran at the top of the list of four 'state sponsors of terrorism' in the world. A few years ago, Israel discovered six tunnels within its territory along its northern borders with Lebanon and destroyed five of them. However, it retained one of the most advanced tunnels up to the so-called 'Blue Line' and blocked it at the border point. American Democratic lawmakers visited this tunnel. Israel did not take similar action regarding a seventh tunnel that had not entered its territory. These tunnels differ fundamentally in complexity from the tunnels that Hamas has built along the Gaza border with Israel, the most important difference being the geological features of the area, such that Israeli officials may have expected less such tunnels to be constructed in that region. Unlike Hamas tunnels, which are easier to dig due to the ground conditions, Hezbollah tunnels are built deep within very hard rocks, a task that was less expected. The Israeli army identified and neutralized Hezbollah's tunnels in January 2019 during Operation 'Northern Shield.' Conricus told the Persian section of Voice of America that Israel estimates that digging each Hezbollah tunnel took at least seven years. He explained that Hezbollah was able to hide the difficult work of digging these tunnels underground from Israel's eyes during this time by allocating significant resources. The most advanced Hezbollah tunnel that entered Israeli territory and was visited by American lawmakers just a few days ago was only a few meters away from completion. This tunnel was dug to a depth of 80 meters or about the height of a 22-story building underground. It is not certain whether Hezbollah left this tunnel in that state until the time of an operation or whether the Israeli army discovered and neutralized it in the midst of Hezbollah's plans to complete it. Regarding other discovered Hezbollah tunnels, he told Voice of America that some tunnels were not shorter and deeper (in the Metula area), but the last tunnel among all Hezbollah tunnels was the longest, deepest, and most advanced tunnel that was only a few meters away from completion. The former international spokesperson for the Israeli army said these tunnels were intended to be the 'hidden' and 'surprising' part of Hezbollah's offensive plan to attack Israel, an operation that Conricus said was called 'Conquest of Galilee.' He said Hezbollah intended to use these tunnels with its elite forces, mostly from the 'Radwan Unit,' to infiltrate Israel and attack Israeli army bases. A few meters from the most advanced Hezbollah tunnel is an Israeli settlement. According to Conricus, Hezbollah intended to kill local people upon entering Israel and abduct Israeli corpses. This former Israeli army spokesperson said that Hezbollah developed this tunnel plan after gaining battle experience with Iranian, Russian, and Syrian forces in Syria. In this written interview, he stated that Israel estimates that each tunnel cost Hezbollah at least $5 million. He said Israel clearly announced its objectives at the beginning of the operation and ensured that Hezbollah was deterred from violent retaliation. The Israeli army deployed significant forces and assets along the border and explicitly stated that it was prepared for battle while showing that it only operates on the Israeli side of the 'Blue Line.'