Israel says Hezbollah tunnel found on Lebanon border

JERUSALEM (AA) – The Israeli military said Tuesday a cross-border tunnel was discovered near border with Lebanon.

In a statement, the army said the tunnel was dug by Lebanese group Hezbollah south of Lebanese town of Kafr Kela.

“[The tunnel] did not pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in the surrounding area,” the statement said.

Earlier Tuesday, the army launched a military operation to “expose and thwart” cross-border tunnels allegedly dug by Hezbollah along border with Lebanon.

The Israeli army says the effort, called Operation Northern Shield, “aims at thwarting Hezbollah’s offensive tunnels stretched inside Israeli territories”.

In 2006, Israel launched a war against Hezbollah during which at least 1,200 people, mostly Lebanese civilians, were killed.