Israeli Army Captures Hezbollah Fighter in South Lebanon Tunnel

The Israeli military announced on Sunday that its troops in Lebanon had captured a Hezbollah militant, marking the first such event since they initiated a cross-border ground operation.

According to a military statement, “During limited, localized, and targeted raids based on precise intelligence… soldiers discovered an underground tunnel shaft.” The troops surrounded the building, inspected the tunnel, and found an underground hideout where a Hezbollah fighter was located with weapons and equipment.

While the military did not specify the exact timing of the capture, Hezbollah has yet to comment on the incident. The captured fighter reportedly surrendered to Israeli forces, who questioned him on-site before transferring him to a detention facility in Israel for further interrogation.

A video accompanying the statement shows Israeli soldiers speaking in Arabic to the Hezbollah fighter, urging him to come out of the tunnel. “Come out before your life is over,” the soldiers can be heard saying. The fighter then asked if they wanted a cigarette, to which a soldier humorously responded, “Cigarettes, coffee, and $5,000.”

The Israeli army began its ground offensive in southern Lebanon on September 30, conducting targeted raids in border villages. They have since discovered several tunnel shafts beneath homes, including one tunnel that was about 25 meters long and extended into Israeli territory.