IDF captures Hezbollah drone factory and launch site hidden inside south Lebanon mountain

Israeli forces have captured what the IDF describes as a Hezbollah drone “airbase” hidden inside a mountain near the border with Israel. The facility is located beneath the hilltop village of Majdal Zoun, where the IDF says Hezbollah built an underground tunnel complex—with Iranian assistance over the past decade—used to assemble Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicles and launch them toward Israel.

According to the IDF, the tunnel system runs several hundred meters into the mountain and reaches depths of about 29 meters below the village, including beneath a mosque. Commanders said the site was constructed to a higher standard than other Hezbollah tunnels previously found in the area.

Inside the tunnel, Israeli troops found rooms stocked with UAV components and said Hezbollah had assembled around 50 explosive-carrying drones. The IDF said the drones had warheads of roughly 30 kilograms of explosives each. On the southern side of the mountain, the IDF said there were launch shafts connected to blast-door-protected exits, allowing Hezbollah to open the exits and fire drones at Israel when needed.

The IDF said the structure had been targeted in the past and that after capturing the facility, soldiers conducted scans and investigations. The IDF indicated the complex is expected to be demolished after the review is completed, even as Israel and Hezbollah continue exchanging attacks amid an existing ceasefire arrangement.