by Nohad Topalian | 2025-09-13

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), in coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), uncovered a 50-meter-long tunnel and unexploded ordnance near the town of al-Qusayr in southern Lebanon on August 20.

In line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, UNIFIL handed over the ordnance to the Lebanese army.

In an earlier joint mission from August 3 to 5, UNIFIL and the Lebanese army had uncovered a network of tunnels and caches containing weapons and ammunition around the towns of Tayr Harfa, Zibqin, and Naqoura.

UNIFIL’s recently extended mandate, now valid until the end of 2026, involves 11,000 troops who play a critical role in preventing escalation in the south through ground monitoring, patrols, and reporting violations to the Lebanese army.

Hizbullah’s secret tunnels

The discovery was the result of close coordination between UNIFIL and the army, aimed at restoring stability to southern Lebanon following Hizbullah’s war against Israel, experts said.

The discovery of the tunnel and munitions "confirms Hizbullah's lack of cooperation with the army and UNIFIL by not declaring the existence of the tunnel, contrary to its claims, and concealing it for later use”, strategy expert Brigadier General Khalil al-Helou told Al-Fassel.

"The discovery of the tunnel and previous discoveries underscore the close cooperation between UNIFIL and the army, and gives the army international cover and greater freedom to maneuver in the south and carry out its assigned tasks," he said.

"The integrated coordination between UNIFIL and the army is reaching its full potential, as UNIFIL discovers the tunnels and hands them over, along with the munitions they contain, to the army, which uses what it deems appropriate and detonates what is useless," he added.

UNIFIL’s transfer of the tunnels’ ammunition to the Lebanese army is conducted under Lebanese sovereignty and aligns with UN Resolution 1701, as well as earlier resolutions 425, 426, and 427, which mandate UNIFIL’s support for Lebanon’s legitimate armed forces, al-Helou said.

"The cooperation between UNIFIL and the army aims to achieve greater stability in the south, and a greater freedom of movement for the army," he said.

Reassuring residents

The continued discovery of Hizbullah tunnels in the south by UN peacekeeping forces is "a significant action, as is its role in supporting the army and the state," political writer Simon Abu Fadel told Al-Fassel.

"The delivery of ammunition by UNIFIL to the Lebanese Army comes within the context of the provisions of UN Resolution 1701, which stipulates that seized weapons be handed over to the army," he said.

"The coordination between the army and UNIFIL contributes to restoring stability to the south," he added.

Coordination between the army and UNIFIL helps restore stability in in southern Lebanon, Abu Fadel said

"The presence of both parties reassures the people of the south, especially since there is a Shia community that recognizes that Hizbullah's weapons no longer frighten them," abu Fadel said.