Israel blows up Hezbollah tunnels in Qantara; orders 16 south Lebanon towns to evacuate

Tuesday, April 28, 2026Confirmed

World Desk

What we know

The Israeli military on Tuesday said troops in Qantara, southern Lebanon, found two Hezbollah tunnels built over roughly a decade — stretching about two kilometres and described as an assembly area for elite Radwan forces — and destroyed them with more than 450 tonnes of explosives, AFP via Straits Times, Times of Israel and Al Jazeera reported. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the army blew up a "huge" tunnel and vowed to keep hitting infrastructure; the IDF said the systems were built with Iranian funding and guidance.

Separately, Israel issued forced displacement orders for 16 southern towns and villages, including Tebnine — home to the south's only functioning hospital — directing residents to move immediately toward the Sidon District, The National and Straits Times reported. Lebanese state media and the health ministry said follow-on air strikes hit named areas and other southern towns, wounding civilians including children, despite the U.S.-brokered ceasefire that has reduced but not stopped daily exchanges.

What's confirmed

AFP/Straits Times: IDF announced discovery and demolition of two Qantara tunnels (~2 km) with over 450 tonnes of explosives; Netanyahu confirmed the blast (AFP).
Times of Israel: Military said tunnels reached ~25 meters deep, were built to Iranian standards and funded as part of a Galilee attack plan (Times of Israel).
The National: Israel ordered residents of 16 southern towns to evacuate toward Sidon; Tebnine hospital area was hit after the warning (The National).
Al Jazeera: Live updates catalogued continued Hezbollah–Israel exchanges in Qantara and nearby towns under the fraying April truce (Al Jazeera).
Straits Times: Health ministry tallied southern civilian casualties from Tuesday strikes after the evacuation order (Straits Times).

What's still developing

How far north of the yellow line Israel expands strikes after the Sidon-bound displacement order.
Independent verification of tunnel dimensions and Iranian involvement beyond IDF claims.
Whether Washington presses both sides over ceasefire violations as civilian displacement widens.

Sources

Straits Times — Israeli strikes kill eight in south Lebanon: Health ministry link
The National — Israel issues forced displacement order for 16 south Lebanon towns link
Times of Israel — IDF blows up 2 vast Hezbollah attack tunnels built with ‘direct guidance’ from Iran link
Al Jazeera — Iran war live: Trump reviews peace plan; UN calls for Hormuz to reopen link
WION — Israel destroys Hezbollah tunnel network by using 450 tonnes of explosives in southern Lebanon link