Drones Israel's next target in Lebanon: Netanyahu

An Israeli military official said the network included large rooms where over 100 Hezbollah fighters could gather at once. In a statement, Defence Minister Israel Katz said the army has been instructed to destroy any Hezbollah infrastructure it finds in southern Lebanon just like in Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said drones are Israel's next target in Lebanon. The Israeli leader said that ''we are not done yet'' after destroying the Hezbollah tunnels in southern Lebanon. ''I gave instructions a few weeks ago for a special project to eliminate the drone threats. It will take time - but we will blow that up too,'' he said. Israel destroyed alleged Hezbollah tunnel network in southern Lebanon. The military detonated a large explosion late Tuesday in Qantara, and Israel's Geological Survey said the blast was so powerful it registered as a ''seismic event''. The army said the network included two large tunnels - one about 800 metres (yards) long and the other 1.2 km (0.7 miles) - that were equipped with sleeping rooms, toilets, kitchen facilities and launchers aimed at Israel. It released photos and video footage of what it said were the tunnels. An Israeli military official said the network included large rooms where over 100 Hezbollah fighters could gather at once. He also said it ran underneath and alongside a mosque, school and soccer field. The town is roughly 10 km (6 miles) from the Israeli border. The official spoke on condition of anonymity under military briefing rules. Israel has come under heavy international criticism for widespread destruction of homes and buildings in Lebanese towns near the border. It says that Hezbollah uses civilian infrastructure to hide its weapons and fighters. In a statement, Defence Minister Israel Katz said the army has been instructed to destroy any Hezbollah infrastructure it finds in southern Lebanon ''just like in Gaza''. Meanwhile, Amnesty International urged Israel to stop destroying civilian property in southern Lebanon. The human rights organisation made the statement Tuesday after a video circulated on social media showing Israeli military excavators destroying solar panels for the Lebanese border village of Debel and its water station. On Saturday, the Israeli military said it was investigating the incident after the footage emerged. Debel is the same village where a soldier was filmed earlier this month smashing a statue of Jesus, prompting international condemnation. ''Amnesty International has previously documented extensive destruction by the Israeli military along Lebanon's border before and after the November 2024 ceasefire,'' the group said, adding it had called for reparations and war crimes investigations. ''So far, neither has appeared.''