Updated · Alma Research and Education Center · Jul 19
Hezbollah Built $1 Billion-$3 Billion Tunnel Network in Lebanon Over 20 Years
Updated
Updated · Alma Research and Education Center · Jul 19
Hezbollah Built $1 Billion-$3 Billion Tunnel Network in Lebanon Over 20 Years
1 articles · Updated · Alma Research and Education Center · Jul 19
Summary
$1 billion to $3 billion is the estimated cost of Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure in Lebanon, according to a new assessment after large sections were exposed during the war that began in October 2023.
The network spans strategic, tactical, approach and offensive tunnels, plus underground sites for weapons storage and rocket or UAV launches, with extensive systems reported beneath many Shiite villages in southern Lebanon.
Experts say the price reflects hard-rock excavation, reinforced construction and clandestine logistics: a 1-km tunnel alone can cost $2 million to $5 million before ventilation, power, drainage and communications systems are added.
The report says Hezbollah developed the project over at least two decades with North Korean and Iranian assistance, and researchers are now mapping the full scope of what they call the group’s 'Land of Tunnels.'
With North Korean tech and Iranian funds, how will Hezbollah's next generation of tunnels evolve?
As Israel carves a 'security zone,' can technology ever truly defeat an enemy that lives underground?
Hezbollah’s $3 Billion Tunnel Network: Strategic Depth, Regional Risks, and the Battle for Southern Lebanon
Overview
Since October 2023, attention has grown on Hezbollah’s vast underground infrastructure in Lebanon, a network developed over two decades with investments estimated at $1–3 billion. This sophisticated system has become central to the intense clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, as fighters have even reopened tunnels previously sealed by the Israel Defense Forces. The tunnels give Hezbollah strongholds for military operations and present major challenges for Israeli forces, who must overcome complex engineering obstacles to destroy them. These developments highlight the ongoing struggle for control in southern Lebanon and the significant impact of Hezbollah’s underground strategy on regional security.