The Israel Defense Forces has announced three separate security operations involving southern Lebanon, Israel’s eastern border and Gaza, including the discovery of underground infrastructure, the interception of a weapons-carrying drone and the killing of a man it identified as a key Hamas financier.
The developments were announced by the Israeli military on Monday, September 28, as operations continued across several fronts.
IDF Says Tunnel Was Found Inside Civilian Home in Southern Lebanon
The Israeli military said troops discovered what it described as a Hezbollah tunnel inside a civilian home in the Al-Mansouri area of southern Lebanon.
According to the IDF, the discovery formed part of a larger operation by reservists from the 55th Paratroopers Brigade alongside the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit.
The military said more than 600 sites it classified as Hezbollah infrastructure were destroyed during the operation, including eight underground routes.
The claims regarding the military use of individual sites are based on the IDF’s account.
Dozens of Missile Launchers Reportedly Discovered
Israeli troops also located dozens of missile launchers that the IDF said had been abandoned by Hezbollah before a ceasefire took effect.
The military described the operation as an effort to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its presence in the security zone established by Israel in southern Lebanon.
Residents of Mansouri had been instructed to evacuate the area nearly two months earlier.
Lebanese state media separately reported a major explosion in Mansouri on Monday, saying the blast caused strong tremors and could be heard in Tyre and surrounding villages.
Drone Carrying Nine Kalashnikov Rifles Intercepted
In a separate incident, Israeli forces said they prevented an attempted weapons-smuggling operation across the country’s eastern border.
According to the IDF, surveillance personnel and the Israeli Air Force detected a drone crossing into Israel from Jordan overnight.
Troops were dispatched to locate the aircraft after it entered Israeli territory.
Ten Firearms Found on Smuggling Drone
When soldiers recovered the drone, the IDF said they found nine Kalashnikov rifles, ammunition magazines and a handgun.
That brought the total number of firearms recovered from the aircraft to 10.
The drone and weapons were subsequently handed over to police for further investigation.
Israeli authorities have previously dealt with attempts to transport weapons and drugs across the Jordanian and Egyptian borders using unmanned aircraft.
The IDF did not identify who was allegedly responsible for the latest attempted shipment in its initial announcement.
IDF Announces Killing of Shadi Abu Hasira
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it killed Shadi Abu Hasira in an airstrike in the Gaza City area on Sunday.
The IDF described Abu Hasira as a central money exchanger for Hamas’ military wing and accused him of playing an important role in moving funds for the organisation.
According to the military, Abu Hasira headed a currency exchange operation known as the “Geneva” network.
‘Geneva’ Network Allegedly Moved Tens of Millions of Shekels
The IDF alleged that the network transferred tens of millions of Israeli shekels in foreign currency to Hamas’ military wing.
Israeli officials said the money was used to finance Hamas personnel, restore military infrastructure and support attacks against Israeli forces.
The military additionally alleged that Abu Hasira operated a Gaza business called Gardena Professional, which facilitated some of the money-transfer activity.
These descriptions of Abu Hasira’s role and financial activities are allegations made by the Israeli military.
Israel Says Abu Hasira Was Helping Restore Hamas Capabilities
The IDF further accused Abu Hasira of recently helping advance attacks against Israeli civilians and troops while working to rebuild Hamas’ capabilities.
It characterised those activities as systematic violations of the ceasefire and said the strike was conducted to eliminate what it regarded as an ongoing threat.
According to the military, measures were taken before the strike to reduce the risk to civilians, including aerial surveillance and the use of precision munitions.
Israeli Military Intensifies Focus on Weapons and Financing Networks
The three announcements highlight different elements of Israel’s current military and security operations.
In southern Lebanon, the IDF says its forces are attempting to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding infrastructure in areas under Israeli military control. Along the Jordanian border, forces are confronting attempts to move weapons using increasingly accessible drone technology.
In Gaza, meanwhile, the Israeli military says it is placing greater emphasis on disrupting financial networks that it alleges enable Hamas to rebuild military capabilities.
Monday’s announcements therefore span underground infrastructure, weapons smuggling and financial networks — three areas the IDF says remain central to preventing armed groups from restoring their operational capabilities.
