On January 19, 2020, Israel’s army announced it would begin drilling across their border with Lebanon in order to install ground sensors aimed at detecting tunneling.
This decision comes one year after an operation to destroy tunnels dug across the border.
International Spokesman of the IDF Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus informed journalists that they are “deploying a defensive system into the ground, and in various locations along the border with Lebanon.”
Work on this project is planned to begin immediately at the Israeli kibbutz town of Misgav Am, he said, to deploy the new noise-detecting technology, which ‘would prevent the possibility of developing tunnels between the two countries.’
As stated previously, this decision comes one year after Israel concluded a weeks-long operation aimed at destroying tunnels, which it accused Hezbollah of constructing in order to gain illegal military and intelligence advantages.
At least six tunnels were discovered in the operation dubbed “Northern Shield” along the border where a United Nations peacekeeping force is currently deployed.
Conricus said the drilling is “not related to any new intelligence” and all military activity would take place on the Israeli side of the border legally. (Whatever that means).
Work at Misgav Am is anticipated to be “speedy and efficient” and will be completed within just a few weeks.
“We understand that our activity might be seen, and most probably will be heard, on the Lebanese side,” said Conricus.
For this reason, Israel has reportedly notified the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon that patrols the “blue line” drawn by the United Nations to mark Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000.
Lebanon and Israel are still technically “at war” with the last war in 2006 between Israel and Hezbollah taking the lives of more than 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians and Hezbollah militants, and more than 160 Israelis, mostly Israeli soldiers.
No official statement by Hezbollah regarding this matter has been made at this time.