U.S. Geological Survey Records 4.1 Earthquake After Israel Destroys Hezbollah Tunnels in Ali al-Tahir Heights

Ali al-Taher blast and quake

The United States Geological Survey recorded a 4.1-magnitude earthquake in southern Lebanon after an explosion targeting a Hezbollah tunnel network beneath the strategic Ali al-Tahir heights. Aajil said the blast followed intensified strikes in recent weeks, with the occupying state announcing its forces destroyed Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure in the highlands and the Israeli army saying it managed to 'disassemble the subterranean routes' and complete what it described as 'operational control' over the area.

Al Jazeera reported that Israel’s military said it destroyed a network of Hezbollah tunnels on the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, and that reports citing Israeli sources found dozens of bodies of Hezbollah fighters inside the tunnels. ABNA English added that Brigadier General Hassan Jouni described the simultaneous operations in multiple areas as an approach beyond responding to Hezbollah's drone attacks, and said Israel is seeking to completely change the field equation in southern Lebanon.

Reporting for this sectionAajilAl Jazeera

Statements, numbers, and framing

Al Jazeera’s report, citing Israeli sources, said dozens of bodies of Hezbollah fighters were found inside the tunnels after Israel destroyed the network on the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon. ABNA English, meanwhile, framed the wider campaign with casualty and displacement figures, saying the war against Lebanon since early March resulted in the martyrdom of 4,532 people, the wounding of 12,318 others, and the displacement of over one million people.

In a separate account, Aajil said Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz warned earlier on Thursday that Iran would face a 'strong response' that would cause damage 'not experienced before' if it decided to attack the occupying regime. ABNA English also quoted Brigadier General Hassan Jouni warning that any Israeli withdrawal must be accompanied by coordination with the Lebanese government and the guarantee of the Lebanese army's deployment in the evacuated areas, otherwise those areas would become security vacuums that threaten stability.

Reporting for this sectionABNA EnglishAajil

Security zone, explosives, and next risks

Al-Andaibindint al-‘Arabiyya said Israel announced that it destroyed underground infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah on Tal Al-Tahhta (Ali al-Tahir hill) in southern Lebanon, where a 4.1-magnitude earthquake was recorded, and it quoted a joint statement saying, “This is strategic terrorist infrastructure built over two decades with Iranian funding and planning.”

Al-Jazirah Net reported that Al Jazeera’s correspondent Fatima Khamaisi cited the Israeli army’s announcement that it used more than 1,100 tons of explosives in the operation targeting Talat Ali al-Tahir, and it also noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the hill as the “largest Iranian site outside Iran.”

Al-Jazirah Net added that Brig. Gen. Hassan Joneh argued that destruction does not necessarily equate to control, differentiating operational control as preventing the enemy from using a site through surveillance, drones, bombing, and raids without keeping permanent forces on top of it.

The same Al-Jazirah Net report said the test after the blast hinges on whether Israel will establish fixed military points on or near the hill and whether it can prevent the hill’s reuse through raids and surveillance, while Al Jazeera’s correspondent Carmen Joukhdar said the South’s concern is whether Israeli forces will remain at the points they advanced to.

Reporting for this sectionAl-Jazirah NetAl-Andaibindint al-‘Arabiyya