IDF says it found Hezbollah terror tunnels below Christian church in Lebanon

Israeli officials accused Hezbollah of violating a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with the recent discovery of a tunnel system beneath a Christian church in southern Lebanon.

On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces said they uncovered an “active Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure” inside a church compound in the village of Al-Khiyam. The area had been cleared of weapons and Hezbollah fighters in December 2024, shortly after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.

“During the current searches in the vicinity, the soldiers located three additional shafts constructed by Hezbollah during the ceasefire, indicating renewed use of the site,” IDF officials said Friday. “The deliberate use of civilian institutions for military purposes constitutes a violation of international law.”

Hezbollah has used the November 2024 ceasefire to rearm and rebuild its terrorist capabilities, including by stockpiling missiles and suicide drones, said Brig. Gen. Ephraim Defrin, chief IDF spokesman.

“They chose to join the Iranian terror regime in these attacks against Israel, putting both Israeli and Lebanese civilians at risk,” Gen. Defrin posted on X. “This is exactly what we are operating against.”

The IDF operations at the church were conducted based on “precise intelligence” that indicated Hezbollah activity in the area.

“Contrary to the declaration by the Lebanese government earlier this year, Hezbollah is still conducting attacks from southern Lebanon,” Gen. Defrin said. “If the Lebanese government will not disarm Hezbollah, the IDF will.”

Hezbollah’s use of the church at Al-Khiyam demonstrates the terror group’s systematic exploitation of Lebanon’s civilians as human shields by embedding military positions within religious sites and civilian areas, the IDF said in a statement.

“As we continue to strike Hezbollah terror targets, IDF troops are positioned in forward defensive points along the border area in southern Lebanon,” Gen. Defrin said. “We will not allow Hezbollah to rearm, and we will continue operating to protect our civilians along our northern border.”