Tunnel Blast Triggers Quake
Massive Israel Tunnel Demolition Triggers 4.1-Magnitude Earthquake in Southern Lebanon
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Key Points
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The USGS reported no immediate casualties or property damage from the 4.1-magnitude earthquake itself.
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The IDF said troops from its 36th Division cleared two major underground routes; it also claimed some Hezbollah fighters were killed while others fled the area.
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The reported network was described as part of a larger system in the Ali al-Taher and Beaufort Castle area: eight tunnels spanning about 5.4 kilometers. Israeli officials said the infrastructure had been built over two decades with Iranian funding and planning.
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The escalation carried a wider regional warning: Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said Iran would face a “strong response” and “unprecedented damage” if it attacked Israel, while Reuters reported that Iran had warned the United States it would respond forcefully to an Israeli strike on Ali al-Taher Hill.
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Beirut authorities said Israeli strikes had killed more than 4,300 people in Lebanon since March, while Israeli forces continued to occupy a designated security zone in the south.
Israel demolished a massive Hezbollah tunnel network in southern Lebanon, triggering a 4.1-magnitude earthquake recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey. The blast at Ali al-Taher ridge released roughly 1,100 tons of explosives, destroying underground command centers, weapons storage, and living quarters stretching more than 2 kilometers.
The Israeli Defense Forces said troops from the 36th Division cleared two major underground routes as part of weeks of operations to control the ridge. Reuters reported that Iran warned the United States it would respond forcefully to the strike, raising concerns about escalation despite an ongoing ceasefire.
The Tunnel Network Built Over Two Decades
The destroyed complex was part of a larger system spanning eight tunnels across 5.4 kilometers in the Ali al-Taher and Beaufort Castle area. Israeli officials said Hezbollah built the infrastructure over 20 years with Iranian funding and planning. The tunnels housed rockets, missiles, drones, and other weapons used by Hezbollah's Badr unit.
Seismic Waves From Underground Explosions
The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the tremor at a depth of 10 kilometers. Local and AFP journalists reported witnessing powerful blasts, while Israel released images of a large fireball. The USGS reported no immediate casualties or property damage from the earthquake itself.
Iran's Warning and Regional Escalation Risks
Reuters reported that Iran warned the United States it would respond forcefully if Israel struck Ali al-Taher Hill. Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz countered that Iran would face a "strong response" and "unprecedented damage" if it attacked Israel. The rhetoric signals rising tension despite the ceasefire.
Beirut authorities said Israeli strikes have killed more than 4,300 people in Lebanon since March. Israeli forces continue to occupy a designated security zone in the south, where the tunnel demolition took place.
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