Israeli military intelligence is closely monitoring Hezbollah’s underground network in Beirut’s Dahyeh district, which, while less extensive than the tunnels used by militants in Gaza, remains a significant strategic asset for the Iranian-backed group, according to a report by Ynet News. Engineering challenges posed by the local soil limit the network’s depth, but Israeli officials warn that Hezbollah intends to conceal most of its strategic resources beneath residential buildings in the Shiite-majority suburb.

The report noted that Lebanese civilians in Beirut have repeatedly refused Hezbollah’s requests to rent apartments outside Dahyeh, fearing that these properties could be targeted in Israeli airstrikes.

The assassination of Hezbollah’s top military commander, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, last month offered a preview of a potential Israeli operation in Lebanon, one the military is urging political authorities to authorize, Ynet News said. Despite the strike, Hezbollah displayed unusual restraint, refraining from firing retaliatory rockets or mortars. However, the Israeli army anticipates that such restraint would likely vanish in a full-scale conflict, predicting a coordinated response of hundreds of rockets, missiles, and drones over several days.

Ynet reports that any future engagement is expected to include a de-escalation mechanism through a joint command center staffed by American and Lebanese officers, coordinating operations between Beirut and the Israeli army’s Northern Command in Safed. Israeli defense officials stress that no operation would proceed without the consent of U.S. President Donald Trump, making an immediate strike unlikely before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled meeting at the White House.

Hezbollah appears to prioritize absorbing near-daily Israeli strikes rather than provoking escalation, while focusing on internal political struggles. According to Ynet, the group’s political influence has weakened over the past year, with many Shiite supporters turning to Amal, a rival movement. Despite domestic challenges, Hezbollah continues rebuilding militarily, converting existing rockets into precision-guided missiles and attempting—but often failing—to expand its presence beyond Dahyeh, the report added.

Political timing also plays a role. With Lebanon’s parliamentary elections approaching in May, Secretary-General Naim Qassem is reportedly focused on internal cohesion and legitimacy rather than confronting Israel. Ynet highlights that Hezbollah’s social and political services, once a core source of influence, are being challenged, contributing to shifts in the group’s support base.

Israeli intelligence has meticulously tracked Nasrallah’s underground hideouts, mapping tunnels, bunkers, and entry points. The Israeli army’s operation “New Order,” designed using this intelligence, killed 30 Hezbollah operatives, including senior commanders, and 40 civilians, in a strike described by military officials as a calculated collateral damage trade-off.

Despite setbacks, Hezbollah remains heavily armed, with tens of thousands of operatives and substantial Iranian financial backing—currently estimated at $700 million annually—ensuring the group continues to pose a strategic threat along Israel’s northern border.

Ynet reported that Israeli officials are now focusing on mid-level commanders who have assumed operational control, acknowledging that Hezbollah has learned from past confrontations and continues to adapt, making future military operations increasingly complex.