Full Breakdown
IDF Captures Hezbollah Underground Tunnel Complex in Majdal Zoun, Southern Lebanon
6/22/2026, 10:38:51 PM
Operation Overview
On 21 June 2026 the Israel Defense Forces’ 91st Division, 551st Brigade seized a Hezbollah tunnel system in the village of Majdal Zoun, roughly 10 km inside southern Lebanon. The underground complex extends more than 200 metres in length, reaches a depth of 25 metres, and contains four blast-door-protected launch shafts, twelve chambers, and a vehicle-sized tunnel. Israeli reservist commandos and Yahalom combat engineers entered the site after a brief firefight that killed 20 Hezbollah militants, including 10 members of the elite Radwan Force. The operation followed a media-guided tour of the tunnel earlier in the month, during which Israeli officials highlighted the facility’s role as a drone “airbase.”
Background & Context
Hezbollah has built an extensive “Land of Tunnels” network across southern Lebanon with Iranian and North-Korean assistance. The Majdal Zoun tunnel, described by Israeli sources as a “drone factory,” was constructed over the past decade with direct Iranian planning and funding. Similar subterranean sites have been identified on the Ali al-Taher ridge and near Beaufort Castle, where the Badr Unit’s headquarters is believed to operate. Prior Israeli airstrikes in 2024 and 2025 attempted to seal the Majdal Zoun shafts, but the group reportedly restored the facility before the June operation.
Data & Statistics
- Tunnel length: > 200 m; depth: ? 25 m.
- Launch shafts: 4; chambers/rooms: 12 (including living quarters).
- Drones recovered: ? 50 UAVs, each with ~30 kg warheads.
- Explosives seized: ~8 tons.
- Additional materiel: anti-tank missiles, rockets, observation posts (? 50 items).
- Hezbollah casualties: 20 fighters (including 10 Radwan).
Official Statements & Responses
IDF Chief of Staff Lt-Gen. Eyal Zamir warned that the ceasefire is “fragile” and that Israeli forces must remain “ready with the highest preparedness to renew our military actions.” A Yahalom squadron commander emphasized that the captured drones “threatened the State of Israel throughout its length and breadth.” An Israeli source later suggested that handing the tunnel to the Lebanese army could serve as “a test for the ability and motivation of the Lebanese army to deal publicly and in an unprecedented way with Hezbollah.”
Criticism & Opposition
Hezbollah officials rejected the IDF’s map of the tunnel network, stating that “the map published by the IDF is not necessarily accepted by Hezbollah, and therefore these ceasefire terms were effectively defined unilaterally.” The group briefly attempted to defend Majdal Zoun, resulting in close-quarters combat, and has warned against further Israeli incursions that embed military infrastructure within civilian villages.
Strategic Significance
The seizure deprives Hezbollah of a launch platform capable of firing UAVs across the entire Israeli territory, curtails Iranian-enabled drone proliferation, and tests the Lebanese army’s willingness to confront the group. The operation also signals Israel’s intent to maintain a forward defense zone beyond the traditional “yellow line,” influencing ongoing US-Iran negotiations and regional security calculations.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the number of militants operating in the broader tunnel system, citing “30-40” fighters in a nearby compound versus the 20 killed in Majdal Zoun. While Israeli officials describe the tunnel as newly captured, earlier reports claim it was bombed and sealed in 2024, only to be restored later. The exact status of the Ali al-Taher ridge facility—whether it will be demolished or transferred to Lebanese forces—remains unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This could be a test for the ability and motivation of the Lebanese army to deal publicly and in an unprecedented way with Hezbollah,” — Israeli source
- “These are drones that threatened the State of Israel throughout its length and breadth. We came here to deprive Hezbollah of these capabilities,” — Yahalom squadron commander
- “At the end of the tunnel, there are exits, four exits protected by blast doors on rails. They can be opened and allow launching of UAVs at Israel,” — Yahalom officer
- “the ceasefire which was announced is shaky and we need to be ready with the highest preparedness to renew our military actions, and to thwart the threats, including quickly transitioning to go on the attack if required.” — Lt-Gen. Eyal Zamir
- “the map published by the IDF is not necessarily accepted by Hezbollah, and therefore these ceasefire terms were effectively defined unilaterally.” — IDF officer (Army Radio)
- “ “Our objective remains clear– defending the communities in northern Israel and Israeli civilians…” — IDF officer
What’s Next
The IDF plans to demolish the Majdal Zoun tunnel after completing structural scans, while diplomatic talks consider whether the Lebanese army will assume control of the site. Operations in the Ali al-Taher ridge and surrounding “forward defense area” are expected to continue, contingent on the stability of the fragile ceasefire and forthcoming US-Iran negotiations.
