Israel destroys Hezbollah underground infrastructure in southern Lebanon

CAIRO — The Israeli military said it destroyed underground infrastructure used by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in a village in southern Lebanon, according to a joint statement issued by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz on Sunday.

The statement said the United States was informed in advance of the operation, which targeted a 200-meter (656-foot) tunnel in the town of Majdal Zoun. Israeli authorities said the tunnel contained hundreds of weapons and launchers.

The strike came two days after Lebanon and Israel agreed to a U.S.-brokered security arrangement aimed at reducing hostilities along the border. Under the agreement, Israeli forces are expected to gradually withdraw from parts of southern Lebanon while the Lebanese army deploys to the area. However, Israeli troops will be allowed to remain in an expanded security zone for the time being.

Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli military said it had struck Hezbollah militants armed with rocket-propelled grenades and destroyed a rocket launcher in the Nabatieh area of southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah condemned the Israeli attacks, calling them a "flagrant" violation of the ceasefire, which it said the group has so far respected. In a statement issued early Monday, Hezbollah said it is closely monitoring the violations and reserves the right to "defend its homeland and people."

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has rejected the new security arrangement, describing it as a surrender to Israel. He said the group would continue its armed resistance.

In his statement, Netanyahu said Israeli forces would remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon and continue to destroy what he described as terrorist infrastructure, eliminate threats to northern Israeli communities, and safeguard the country's security.

The conflict has displaced more than one million people in Lebanon and has unfolded alongside the broader regional conflict involving Iran. Hezbollah and Iran have said Washington pledged to help ensure an end to hostilities in Lebanon as part of a memorandum of understanding signed two weeks ago to end the wider war.

-Reporting by Menna Alaa El-Din and Ahmed Tolba; additional reporting by Yomna Ehab; Editing by Chris Reese and Sanjeev Miglani/Reuters