Israel and Lebanon hold Rome talks as Hezbollah tunnel network takes centre stage

The Rome meeting

Israeli and Lebanese government representatives are meeting in Rome on 4 August 2026 for further political talks on their bilateral security agreement. Lebanese government circles say the underground tunnel network of Hezbollah will be a central topic. The direct discussions come amid continuing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, where a fragile ceasefire since June has been tested by recent Israeli military operations.

Hezbollah's underground infrastructure

The Iran-backed Hezbollah has built an underground military structure over decades that Israel views as a direct threat. The tunnel network, according to observers and experts, includes command centres, weapons depots, launch positions, supply corridors and protected passageways that allow fighters to move undetected. The system stretches across several regions and reaches into the northern part of the Bekaa Valley, although it is not connected nationwide.

The tunnels are an 'extremely important' component of Hezbollah's military infrastructure.

Lebanese military expert Munir Shehadeh explained that shifting military infrastructure underground fundamentally changed the battlefield. Israel possesses superior air power, satellite reconnaissance, drones, electronic surveillance and precision-guided weapons. Shehadeh said the tunnel strategy aimed to protect fighters, weapons and command centres while sustaining operations under heavy airstrikes. Over the years, Hezbollah invested heavily in its underground warfare capability, and the system fulfilled many of its intended goals even though it could not prevent Israel from entering southern Lebanon and destroying significant parts of the organisation's military infrastructure. Satellite images show Israeli demolition operations caused massive destruction in several southern Lebanese villages.

Israeli warnings and operations

Israel has repeatedly warned about the risk that Hezbollah fighters could use the tunnels to launch a large-scale attack on northern Israel modelled on the Hamas assault of 7 October 2023. The Washington Post reported more than two years ago, citing a Hezbollah representative, that the elite Radwan unit was created for offensive missions including cross-border attacks on Israel.

The Israeli military has been destroying Hezbollah tunnels in Lebanon for several years, including some that reached into Israeli territory. Lebanese reports say residential buildings were repeatedly damaged during these operations. UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon also stated they discovered an extensive tunnel network in the country's south in summer 2025. Most recently, the Israeli army destroyed a tunnel belonging to the Shiite group near the historically and strategically important Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, reportedly using around 700 tonnes of explosives. Both Israeli and Lebanese accounts say the castle itself suffered no damage. Lebanese state news agency NNA reported another heavy wave of destruction in several towns over the weekend, described as one of the most severe since the ceasefire began in June.

Expert assessment

Experts see the tunnel system as a calculated response to Israel's military superiority. By moving assets underground, Hezbollah attempts to neutralise advantages in air power and surveillance. However, the strategy has limits: Israeli ground incursions and precise demolition operations have still inflicted substantial losses on the group's infrastructure, as satellite imagery and on-the-ground reports from southern Lebanon confirm.

The goal was to build an underground military infrastructure that protects fighters, weapons and command centres while also maintaining operations under intensive air strikes.

Against this backdrop, today's Rome meeting is expected to test whether the security agreement can address the tunnel threat while preserving the fragile calm along the border.