Israel’s security establishment is closely monitoring a standoff in southern Lebanon involving dozens of Hezbollah terrorists trapped inside an underground tunnel network in the village of Tebnit, amid growing concerns that Hezbollah’s Radwan Force could attempt to carry out a kidnapping attack against IDF troops, according to a report by Walla.

During last week’s ground operation in southern Lebanon, IDF forces surrounded an underground system in Tebnit, located southeast of Nabatieh. Using precise intelligence gathered by Military Intelligence and Northern Command, troops quickly sealed off the tunnel entrances and trapped the terrorists inside.

According to a security official quoted in the report, several mediators approached Israel seeking safe passage for the terrorists. Israel’s response, the official said, was unequivocal: surrender or remain in the underground system and face death.

Sources familiar with the negotiations told Walla that under the ceasefire arrangements, the terrorists have the option of surrendering to the IDF. For now, however, they have chosen to remain underground.

One source said Israel views the incident as an important pilot program that could serve as a model for demilitarizing parts of southern Lebanon and removing Hezbollah terrorists and terror infrastructure from the area. The source noted that a similar process unfolded with Hamas terrorists who were trapped in Rafah and ultimately were forced either to fight or surrender.

At the same time, concerns are growing among IDF forces operating in southern Lebanon that Radwan Force terrorists who remain in the area may attempt to exploit an operational opportunity and carry out a kidnapping attack in order to gain leverage for future negotiations.

Troops have reportedly been instructed to move in pairs or small groups and to maintain close coordination between ground and air forces in case terrorists attempt an assault on tanks, Namer armored vehicles, jeeps, or military structures.

A military official told Walla that some of Hezbollah’s underground systems in southern Lebanon may have been specifically designed to facilitate kidnapping attacks against IDF soldiers and to assist in either escape or the concealment of captives. The official added that most tunnel entrances are camouflaged and difficult to detect.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)