Israel and Hezbollah are engaged in intense fighting along the border, with over 35 Israeli soldiers killed since the ground offensive began on October 7. In a recent video, the Israeli military disclosed that it has “dismantled” several underground tunnels used by Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon. Among these was a kilometer-long tunnel reportedly located beneath a Beirut cemetery, which contained command centers, sleeping quarters, and weapon storage areas. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) shared footage on social media platform X, revealing an array of weapons and military gear stored within the tunnel, including AK-47s, pistols, grenade launchers, claymore mines, and chemical materials. Another video released by the IDF showed a tunnel shaft near an amusement park and another near a university, both containing weapons like RPGs, mortar shells, and chemical substances.
The IDF has also uncovered numerous rockets smuggled into Israel from Hezbollah and other locations in Gaza, including a number that were hidden in children’s toys. A tunnel was also found that linked Rantisi Hospital with a home belonging to a Hamas terrorist. In other developments, the Nahal Infantry Brigade captured a Hezbollah stronghold in Jabaliya overnight. Troops fought terrorists on the ground and from the air and found ample supplies of weaponry, intelligence materials, and tunnel shafts – including one adjacent to a kindergarten that led to an extensive underground route.
IDF planes destroyed the site after identifying the tunnels and a nearby cell of 10 Hamas members. The IDF says that since the ground operation started, it has identified and destroyed 130 tunnel routes.
Heavy fighting continues around the Gaza hospital in Shifa, and a safe corridor was opened for people who want to leave the area. The IDF has also exposed how Hamas terrorists use ambulances to transport weapons and other supplies and exploit the military’s policy of abstaining from hitting medical targets.
As the fighting rages, many Israelis have united to support their troops and bolster morale. Some have even shared their inspiring stories of love for their homeland despite the ongoing terrorism and violence.
In other news, Israeli universities have postponed the start of the academic year due to the war, and many students are conscripted for reserve duty. Meanwhile, rocket and other fire from Hezbollah continued to escalate, including a recent attack in which two IDF soldiers were wounded. One of the injured soldiers is in serious condition, while the other is in moderate condition.
