‘IDF tunnel operation along Lebanese border is PR stunt’
"Hezbollah will argue that we violated their sovereignty, but they were the ones who violated it."
By YANIR COZINUpdated: DECEMBER 4, 2018 19:12A timeline of the IDF's battle against Hezbollah attack tunnels, December 4, 2018 (IDF Spokesperson)
There was no pressing need for the IDF to carry out Operation Northern Shield along the country's border with Lebanon, a source familiar with the details of the operation told The Jerusalem Post's sister publication Maariv Tuesday."This is not a military operation, but a public relations operation," the source said, criticizing Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot's decision to launch the operation at this time."In general, what we usually do is to pour concrete into the tunnel," the source said, adding that the IDF would pour concrete into the tunnels up to point where calculations show they reach the border with Lebanon."Hezbollah will argue that we violated their sovereignty, but they were the ones who violated it."The IDF Spokesperson's Unit announced the launch of Operation Northern Shield Tuesday in order to protect Israel from cross-border tunnels dug by Hezbollah.The objective of the operation is to expose and neutralize all Hezbollah attack tunnels which have crossed into Israeli territory. The operation will take place along the Blue Line, the international border between Israel and Lebanon, and strictly within Israeli territory.This report was translated by Cassandra Gomes-Hochberg from Maariv. Anna Ahronheim contributed reporting.