Hezbollah’s Tunnels and Flexible Command withstanding Israel’s Deadly Strikes by Reuters

By Laila Bassam and James Mackenzie

BEIRUT/JERUSALEM – Hezbollah’s adaptable command structure, coupled with its extensive network of tunnels and a large stockpile of missiles and weapons amassed over the past year, is enabling the group to endure unprecedented Israeli strikes, according to three sources familiar with Hezbollah’s operations.

Israel has intensified its assaults on Hezbollah over the past week, targeting senior commanders and employing booby-trapped communication devices, significantly impacting the group.

On Friday, Israeli forces killed Ibrahim Aqil, the commander who founded and led Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, recent airstrikes have resulted in over 560 deaths, including 50 children, marking the deadliest violence in Lebanon in decades.

Israel’s military chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, stated that Aqil’s death has sent shockwaves through the organization. Israeli strikes reportedly destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rockets and munitions.

Despite the devastation, two sources noted that Hezbollah swiftly appointed replacements for Aqil and other senior leaders lost in recent airstrikes. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah indicated in an August 1 speech that the group quickly addresses leadership voids when a commander is killed.

A Hezbollah official reported that attacks on communication devices have left 1,500 fighters injured, many sustaining serious injuries, including blindness and amputations. Although this represents a significant blow, it constitutes only a small portion of Hezbollah’s overall strength, which a U.S. Congressional report estimates at 40,000 to 50,000 fighters, while Nasrallah claims the figure to be around 100,000.

Since October, when Hezbollah began targeting Israel in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza, the group has redeployed fighters to frontline areas in southern Lebanon, including some from Syria. Sources revealed that Hezbollah has been rapidly bringing additional rockets into Lebanon, preparing for a prolonged conflict while trying to avoid an all-out war.

Iran remains Hezbollah’s primary backer and source of weaponry. The group forms a crucial element of Iran’s "Axis of Resistance," comprised of allied irregular forces throughout the Middle East, and its arsenal includes weapons manufactured in Iran, Russia, or China.

The sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information, did not disclose specific details about the weapons or their origins. Hezbollah’s media office did not respond to requests for comment.

Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at King’s College London, acknowledged that while recent attacks have disrupted Hezbollah’s operations, the group’s interconnected organizational structure contributes to its resilience. "This is the most formidable enemy Israel has ever faced on the battlefield, not merely due to numbers or technology, but in terms of resilience," he stated.

RISING HOSTILITIES

Hostilities have escalated, with Israel killing another top Hezbollah commander, Ibrahim Qubaisi, on Tuesday. In response, Hezbollah demonstrated its capability to continue operations, launching hundreds of rockets into Israel with deeper strikes.

On Wednesday, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for targeting an Israeli intelligence base near Tel Aviv, over 100 kilometers from the border. The Israeli military confirmed that a single surface-to-surface missile fired by Hezbollah was intercepted by air defense systems, prompting warning sirens in Tel Aviv.

The group has not indicated whether it has deployed its most advanced precision-guided rockets, like the Fateh-110, an Iranian-made ballistic missile with a range of 250-300 kilometers. According to a 2018 analysis, these missiles possess a significant warhead capacity of 450-500 kilograms.

Despite the disruption caused by the attacks on communication equipment, Hezbollah’s command structure has remained operational, enabling continued rocket launches. A senior security official stated that a dedicated, fixed-line telephone network crucial for communications continues to function alongside various devices. Many fighters utilized older pager models unaffected by last week’s attacks.

While many injuries from the exploding devices were reported in Beirut, far from the frontlines, the group’s command structure is designed to retain operational capabilities even if individual leaders are incapacitated. Fighters are trained to operate in small, independent units, drawing from surrounding villages near the border, allowing them to sustain prolonged engagements against Israeli forces, similar to their effectiveness during the 2006 conflict.

Israel contends that its intensified military operations aim to incapacitate Hezbollah’s capabilities and facilitate the return of displaced Israelis to homes near the Lebanon border. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has expressed a preference for a negotiated settlement that would see a Hezbollah withdrawal from the border area but remains prepared to continue military action if necessary.

A PROTRACTED CONFLICT?

Hezbollah’s resilience raises concerns about the potential for a drawn-out conflict that could draw in the U.S., an ally of Israel, and Iran, especially if Israel engages in a ground offensive in southern Lebanon.

In a warning about the impact of an escalated conflict in the Middle East, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian indicated that the consequences could be "irreversible." Meanwhile, a U.S. State Department representative expressed disagreement with Israel’s escalation strategy and emphasized the pursuit of de-escalation.

UNDERGROUND CAPABILITIES

Sources reported that Hezbollah’s weaponry is adeptly hidden, as evidenced by rockets launched from areas in southern Lebanon previously struck by Israel. The organization is thought to maintain a concealed arsenal, and recently released footage suggested its fighters were operating trucks equipped with rocket launchers moving through tunnels.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant claimed that recent strikes had destroyed tens of thousands of Hezbollah’s rockets and munitions, including long-range cruise missiles and explosive drones. However, independent verification of these claims remains unavailable.

Experts note that Israel has not yet targeted significant strategic assets like long-range missile sites. Hezbollah’s arsenal reportedly consists of around 150,000 rockets, with some of its most powerful long-range ballistic missiles stored underground.

The group has spent years constructing a vast tunnel network, which, according to Israeli assessments, extends for hundreds of kilometers. Israel’s military claims its airstrikes have targeted missile launch sites concealed beneath civilian structures in southern Lebanon, a claim Hezbollah has not officially addressed.

TUNNEL INFRASTRUCTURE

Hezbollah’s capabilities, including its arsenal and tunnel systems, have expanded since the 2006 war, particularly concerning precision-guided missiles. Israeli officials assert that Hezbollah’s military infrastructure is deeply integrated within the southern Lebanese communities, with weapons storage in residential areas.

While confirmed specifics about the tunnel network are limited, some reports suggest that Iran and North Korea have assisted in its development following the 2006 conflict. As seen in Gaza, where tunnel networks have proven challenging to dismantle, Israeli officials are wary of similar challenges in Lebanon.

"The tunnel problem presents one of our biggest challenges in Gaza, which is undoubtedly something we would confront in Lebanon," stated a senior researcher from an Israeli think tank.

With Hezbollah’s extensive capabilities in place, the prevailing atmosphere suggests that the conflict may persist, with both sides gearing up for further engagements in the volatile region.