Hezbollah's advanced tunnel system is supported by Iran and North Korea in their battle against Israel.

Although Israel has been engaged in a conflict with Hamas in Gaza for nearly a year following the Oct. 7 attacks, security experts warn that the greatest danger to Jerusalem comes from the north in Lebanon, where Hezbollah has constructed a complex network of tunnels.

In southern Lebanon, over the past 20 years, Hezbollah, an Islamic terrorist group supported by Iran, has constructed a vast network of tunnels totaling over 100 miles in length.

The significant role of tunnels in arming Hezbollah has been highlighted during the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza, where terrorists have used them for operational rearmament, maneuvering capabilities, and to house hostages taken by Hamas nearly a year ago.

The Alma Research and Education Center reports that Hezbollah's tunnels, which have not been significantly impacted by the war in Gaza, are believed to be more advanced and larger than the IDF's efforts to eliminate Hamas' tunnels, which have been estimated to have eradicated about 80% of them.

After the Second Lebanon War in 2006, Hezbollah is thought to have started mining its tunnels in collaboration with Iran and North Korea, with inspiration from Pyongyang and the tunnels it constructed following the Korean War.

Iran recognized North Korea as an expert in tunnel construction because of its history of digging tunnels for military purposes, as evidenced by its attempt to bore through the Korean Demilitarized Zone in an attempt to invade areas near Seoul.

The authoritarian nation never intended to use the tunnels, but two of the four neutralized tunnels were reportedly capable of accommodating up to 30,000 troops per hour along with armored personnel carriers, tanks, and field artillery. Hezbollah has used this operational blueprint in its fight against Israel.

According to the report, Hezbollah, under the guidance of North Korea, constructed two types of tunnels in southern Lebanon, including offensive tunnels and infrastructure tunnels.

At least six tunnels were discovered by IDF forces during Operation Northern Shield in December 2018, which were intended for similar operational use as North Korea's offensive tunnels.

Hezbollah's tunnels can transport ATVs, motorcycles, and other small vehicles, according to Alma's research, although the number of terrorists they can accommodate was not specified.

The tunnels contain "underground command and control rooms, weapons and supply depots, field clinics and designated shafts used to launch missiles of all types," according to the report. The report notes that rockets, surface-to-surface missiles, anti-tank missiles, and anti-aircraft missiles can be fired from "shafts" in the tunnels. These shafts are concealed and camouflaged and cannot be detected from above ground.

It is believed that the tunnels link the logistical base of Hezbollah in the Beqaa Valley near the Syrian border to the capital of Beirut, where its central headquarters is located.

The Alma report, first published in 2021, referred to the inter-regional tunnel network as "Hezbollah's Land of the Tunnels," and described the tunnel system as a "metro" of tunnels rather than a single, long tunnel.

The infrastructure tunnels mined by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon form an underground network that serves as the first and second lines of defense against an Israeli invasion, as reported by Alma.

An estimated 28-mile tunnel was built by a terrorist organization, raising questions about how they managed to construct such a complex system without government opposition in Lebanon.

Hezbollah keeps the locations, routes, internal structure, etc., of its tunnels secret through expropriation of territories, prevention of civilians from entering certain areas, and leveraging its presence and influence in the government, as stated by Boaz Shapira, a researcher with Alma, to Planet Chronicle Digital.

Hezbollah is better funded, organized, trained, and armed than the Lebanese government, army, police, or even the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, which has a force of 10,500 peacekeeping troops in Lebanon and was put in place after the 2006 war.

Israel considers Hezbollah a major threat due to its cooperation with authoritarian countries like Iran and North Korea.

According to both Shapira and former IDF Major Gen. Yaakov Amidror, the growing power of Hezbollah in Lebanon has made it the top Israeli security threat.

"According to Amidror, Lebanon's government is insufficient to challenge Hezbollah's influence. The government's decisions are not the ones that matter, but rather those made by Hezbollah."

According to Shapira, Hezbollah is believed to have approximately 50,000 terrorists and its influence has expanded to nearly all of Lebanon's security institutions.

"Hezbollah's actions are perceived as treason in Lebanon and cooperation with Israel, which means that no one in the army has any motivation to challenge them."

Over the past few decades, the demographics of the once predominantly Christian nation have changed, resulting in a majority Muslim population. However, the U.S. State Department reports that the Muslim population in Lebanon is nearly equally divided between Shiite and Sunni groups.

Shapira stated that almost every Shiite soldier in the army has a brother, cousin, or friend who is a Hezbollah terrorist.

According to Amidror, a renowned fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America and a former national security adviser to the prime minister of Israel, as well as a 36-year veteran of the IDF, Israel should adopt a proactive strategy in combating Hezbollah.

He suggested that we start the war against Hezbollah, emphasizing that the timing of the operation is the most crucial factor to consider.

The retired major general stated that the war would be devastating for both us and Lebanon, as at least 50% of their missiles were concealed in populated areas.

"The war will be devastating for both sides, with huge casualties, as Amidror explained. The problem with fighting these organizations is that they operate from within their own population and target the Israeli population," he continued.

It's complex to fight against civilians when the battle takes place within their midst, he stated.