The Israeli military is awaiting political approval to demolish an extensive underground tunnel network beneath the Beaufort Castle area in southern Lebanon, an operation that Israeli media reports say could trigger a localized earthquake because of the massive quantity of explosives required.

Israeli newspaper Maariv, citing military sources on Monday, reported that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been waiting for several days for authorization from the political leadership before carrying out the operation.

According to the report, military experts estimate that detonating the tunnel complex could generate seismic activity measuring between 3.4 and 3.7 on the Richter scale, prompting the army to delay the operation until it receives a final political green light.

Israeli outlet JDN reported that the IDF's Combat Engineering Corps has completed surveying and mapping the extensive underground network beneath the Beaufort Ridge and is now awaiting approval from Israel's political leadership through the Northern Command before destroying the infrastructure.

The report said experts believe the volume of explosives required to collapse the underground structures would likely produce seismic tremors equivalent to a 3.4- to 3.7-magnitude earthquake in the surrounding area.

The reported operation comes as Israeli forces continue military operations and maintain positions in parts of southern Lebanon.

Around 40 Hezbollah Fighters Trapped Underground

According to Israeli media reports, Israeli forces have surrounded approximately 40 Hezbollah fighters inside the sprawling tunnel network beneath the Ali Taher Heights, one of the most strategically important and heavily contested areas in southern Lebanon.

The reports said Israeli troops have secured all entrances and exits to the underground complex, effectively trapping those inside and preventing any escape.

Israeli officials estimate that the fighters' supplies of food and equipment are expected to run out in the coming days as the siege continues.

At the same time, the Israeli military is preparing for the possibility that the trapped fighters could attempt to break through the encirclement or launch attacks against nearby Israeli positions.

Israeli military officials say those inside the tunnel system have very limited options for escaping the siege.

Extensive Underground Complex

The Israeli military describes the Ali Taher Heights as one of the most dangerous operational areas in southern Lebanon.

According to Israeli military assessments, Hezbollah constructed a large underground complex beneath the ridge consisting of tunnels and bunkers stretching for more than one kilometer.

Israeli officials believe the network serves as a command-and-control center and contains weapons depots as well as facilities used to launch rockets.

Israel has carried out several airstrikes targeting the underground complex, but officials say the depth of the tunnels prevented the facility from being completely destroyed from the air.

As a result, Israeli ground forces shifted their strategy from continued aerial bombardment to sealing off the tunnel entrances, aiming to isolate those inside rather than attempting to destroy the entire network through additional airstrikes.

If political approval is granted, the planned demolition would represent one of the largest engineering operations carried out by the Israeli military in southern Lebanon, with Israeli media warning that the resulting explosion could be powerful enough to register as a small earthquake.