Israel has concluded a large-scale engineering operation along its border with Lebanon, aiming to dismantle Hezbollah's entrenched infrastructure and fortify border communities against future threats. The covert initiative, codenamed "Silver Plow," kicked off shortly after October 7, 2023, and spanned over a year, reshaping more than 120 kilometers of terrain, Israel's Ynet News website revealed. 

According to the report, the Israeli army's Northern Command mobilized thousands of engineering and infantry soldiers to clear forests, demolish buildings, and expose underground tunnels that Hezbollah had constructed over decades. The objective was to create a barren buffer zone, eliminating cover for potential infiltrations.

"We divided the border into sections, adapting our approach to the terrain," said Col. I, Northern Command Chief Engineering Officer. "Geologists, engineers, and earthworks experts joined forces to tackle forests, wadis, and subterranean structures."

300 military and civilian engineering vehicles, supported by four engineering battalions, operated along the border. Armored bulldozers and lighter vehicles carried out covert nighttime missions beyond the Blue Line, targeting Hezbollah's fortified positions.

A turning point came in October 2024, when a ground operation into Lebanon allowed the Israeli army to accelerate its efforts.

"Once we attained operational control, we ramped up demolition of terrorist infrastructure," Col. I explained.

In areas like Maroun El Ras, overlooking Avivim, Israeli troops cleared buildings and unearthed bunkers, command centers, and firing positions.

"We found underground outposts equipped with combat gear, hidden beneath wooden panels and camouflaged by vegetation," said Lt. Col. S of the 146th Division, responsible for the western sector.

Hezbollah's infrastructure extended even near UN peacekeeping outposts, the report claimed, prompting Israeli engineering teams to destroy generators, solar panels, and surveillance systems used by the militant group.

The Israeli military also employed unconventional methods to meet operational demands. When explosives ran low, troops retrieved live anti-tank mines from the Golan Heights to destroy Hezbollah's tunnels and other underground installations.

With the operation now complete, the Israeli army vows to maintain the newly established buffer zone, preventing regrowth and construction in the area.

"This is a kill zone," Northern Command officials stated, underscoring their commitment to preserving the border's security.