Operation Northern Shield

The Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Northern Shield to expose and neutralize cross-border attack tunnels that Hezbollah dug from Lebanon into Israel. 

Hezbollah, the Iran-backed terror group, has overtaken southern Lebanon. Their plan of attack against Israel, called "Conquer the Galilee," is comprised of severall components. The underground attack tunnels were the most clandestine of all, intended to aid the terror group in surprise attacks and kidnappings of Israeli civilians and soldiers. Operation Northern Shield foiled this plan.

Both this plan and the tunnels themselves constitute a grave violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which was implemented as an end to the Second Lebanon War in 2006. It calls for a disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, no armed forces except for UNIFIL and the Lebanese army south of the Litani River, and full respect of the Blue Line (the Israel-Lebanon border), among other requirements. 

The IDF will continue conducting a broad defense effort on the Lebanese border until the neutralization effort is completed. This includes integrating various means and technologies, such as continuing the construction of the defensive barrier (the Defensive Obstacle Project). In addition, IDF troops and the underground detection laboratory will continue operating regularly along the Lebanese border in order to protect Israeli civilians. 

As the sovereign power in the country, the Lebanese government is responsible for all terror that emanates from within it, including Hezbollah's cross-border tunnel efforts. The IDF is determined to carry out the task of protecting Israeli civilians and will continue operating in the area and will monitor possible underground activity. 

Timeline of key events in Operation Northern Shield: 

December 4, 2018: The IDF exposes Hezbollah's tunnel operation, including a tunnel reaching from the Lebanese village of Kafr Kela into Israeli territory. 

December 6, 2018: The Commander of the IDF Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Yoel Strik, met with the Head of Mission of UNIFIL, the Italian General Stefano Del Col. UNIFIL is tasked with ensuring Lebanon and Israel keep to UN Resolution 1701. These cross-border tunnels represent a massive violation. 

December 8, 2018: The IDF uncovers yet another attack tunnel. 

December 9, 2018: The IDF Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot held a meeting with the Head of Mission of UNIFIL, the Gen. Stefano Del Col. Lt. Gen. Eisenkot reiterated the importance of Resolution 1701, and stressed that any violation on the Lebanese side is the fault and responsibility of the government of Lebanon. 

December 11, 2018: The IDF locates another cross-border Hezbollah attack tunnel.

December 16, 2018: The IDF locates a cross-border Hezbollah attack tunnel, originating in Ramyeh, Lebanon. Troops laid explosives on the Israeli side; any Hezbollah operative who enters from Lebanon would be making a lethal mistake. 

December 17, 2018: UNIFIL releases a statement about the attack tunnels, confirming that the tunnels cross the border into Israel and declaring that they "constitute violations of UN Security Council resolution 1701." 

December 20, 2018: The neutralization and destruction phase of Operative Northern Shield begins. The tunnels are destroyed either by explosive detonation or by filling them with a concrete mixture. 

December 21, 2018: Another tunnel originating from Ramyeh is uncovered and neutralized by the IDF. 

December 26, 2018: The IDF uncovers another Hezbollah attack tunnel, this time dug from Ayta ash Shab. The IDF neutralized it with explosives. 

December 27, 2018: The IDF uncovers a Hezbollah attack tunnel dug from Kafr Kela into Israeli territory. It was filled with concrete from the Israeli side, which spilled out into the tunnel opening in Lebanon. 

January 13, 2019: The final attack tunnel, stretching from the village of Ramyeh into Israeli territory, is uncovered and neutralized. 

Although the operation has come to an end, the IDF will continue to protect Israel's civilians from Hezbollah's terror.