The Israeli military claims it has uncovered a sprawling tunnel network beneath the Beaufort castle in southern Lebanon, saying it was built to give Hezbollah a fortified strike hub just kilometres from Israeli territory.

“The tunnel network was constructed within a civilian area at a location that provides operational control over the Galilee Panhandle region, only six kilometres from Metula (in Israel), and served as a central Hezbollah … hub in the area,” the military said.

It claimed the tunnel network was “funded by Iran and engineered to shelter hundreds of fighters”.

“In one tunnel, approximately one kilometre in length, troops located six underground shafts, a storage room used for weapons, an anti-tank missile launcher, anti-tank missiles, grenades, ammunition, combat equipment, advanced medical equipment, and several living quarters, including shower facilities, restrooms, an operating room, and kitchens,” the military alleged.