During recent military operations in southern Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) uncovered significant Hezbollah military infrastructure concealed within civilian areas. Notably, in late October 2024, IDF troops discovered an extensive underground complex beneath a Lebanese border village. This facility featured multiple rooms, including armories stocked with AK-47 assault rifles, sniper rifles, anti-tank guided missiles, and rocket-propelled grenades, as well as living quarters and food storage areas.
Further investigations revealed that Hezbollah had strategically placed weapons and military equipment in civilian homes. In one instance, IDF soldiers found a weapons cache inside a child’s bedroom, highlighting the group’s tactic of embedding military assets within residential settings.
These findings underscore the challenges of distinguishing between civilian and military targets in conflict zones, as Hezbollah’s integration of military infrastructure into populated areas complicates efforts to minimize civilian harm during military operations.