Israeli officials are reportedly considering transferring control of a Hezbollah tunnel complex in Tebnit to the Lebanese army as a test of Beirut's willingness and ability to confront the group. Sources told N12 the proposal surfaced in recent political and military discussions and may be revisited on Tuesday. Israeli intelligence estimates 30–40 Hezbollah operatives are inside the Tebnit compound, and the IDF also disclosed a separate Majdal Zoun complex—29 meters deep, over 200 meters long, with 12 rooms and hundreds of weapons.
Israel Weighs Handing Tebnit Tunnel Complex To Lebanese Army As Test Of Response To Hezbollah
An Israeli soldier inspects a Hezbollah attacking position tunnel found during anIDF operation. (photo credit: Amir Levy/Getty Images)
Israeli officials are reportedly considering transferring control of a Hezbollah tunnel complex in the southern Lebanese village of Tebnit to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), N12 reported on Sunday, citing sources familiar with the discussions.
According to the report, the option has emerged in recent political and military deliberations and could resurface during talks planned for Tuesday. Israeli authorities view such a handover as a potential test of the LAF's capacity and willingness to confront Hezbollah openly.
"This could be a test for the ability and motivation of the Lebanese army to deal publicly and in an unprecedented way with Hezbollah," an Israeli source told N12.
Security officials cautioned that the Lebanese army has historically faced challenges in taking decisive action against Hezbollah, the report added.
Ali Hassan Najdi, 64, stands near a Hezbollah flag planted in the rubble of his cousin's destroyed house. (credit: MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images)
Tebnit has been a focal point of Israel Defence Forces (IDF) activity in southern Lebanon over the past week. Israeli intelligence estimates that between 30 and 40 Hezbollah operatives are stationed inside a large subterranean compound there. While IDF forces are operating above the site, ceasefire efforts involving the United States and Iran have, so far, prevented them from entering the tunnels.
The Tebnit site is described by the IDF as an extensive tunnel network whose destruction or neutralization is a central objective of military efforts in the area.
On Sunday the IDF also disclosed a separate underground complex in the village of Majdal Zoun, roughly 10 kilometers from the Israeli border. The Majdal Zoun installation was reportedly constructed to a depth of 29 meters, extends more than 200 meters, and contains 12 rooms, blast doors, four missile-launch positions and hundreds of weapons, according to the IDF.
The proposed handover — if pursued — would carry political and operational implications: it could either demonstrate Lebanese state capacity to police armed groups on its territory or underscore ongoing limits to Beirut's control over Hezbollah. Officials on all sides are expected to weigh security risks, credibility concerns and the broader diplomatic context before any transfer occurs.
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