Lebanon's Hysteria Over a Small Tunnel: A Symptom of Deepening Tensions

A recent discovery of a tunnel northeast of Beirut triggered immediate alarm, with fears quickly surfacing about a potential connection to Hezbollah. This incident marks the latest in a series of events heightening tensions in a divided Lebanon, where Hezbollah has resisted government pressure to disarm as part of a stalled plan aimed at halting Israeli bombings and occupation along the southern border region.

The tunnel's discovery in Fanar ignited a flurry of online speculation. Some theories posited that Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shiite militia and political party, was constructing military infrastructure within the predominantly Christian heartland of northern Matn. Others suggested the tunnel was the work of gold prospectors.

"You can't blame the people. It's because of the whole situation," a Lebanese security source commented, adding, "It's a sign of the tensions." As if to underscore the prevailing atmosphere, an Israeli surveillance drone passed overhead shortly after the statement.

Ultimately, the alarm surrounding the tunnel proved to be an overreaction. The Lebanese army investigated, reporting that the tunnel extended five meters down and eight meters horizontally. It contained only digging tools, with no weapons or gold found. The current prevailing theory, though unconfirmed by evidence, is that it served as a drop site for drug dealers.

"It's not for weapons. Maybe for drugs, but for sure not related to ammunition or weapons. It's very primitive, no way it would be for weapons," stated the Lebanese security official. They further described the tunnel as narrow and difficult to navigate. "If it was gold I would be there, not here in the office," they quipped.

Further unfounded alarm followed the recent revelation that a Shiite businessman had purchased numerous plots of land in northern Matn between 2008 and 2014. Reports from MTV, a staunchly anti-Hezbollah television station, alleged this was an effort to create a "Shiite crescent." However, the businessman, Rida Jaffal, was found to have no ties to Hezbollah and denied any involvement in "political or security projects" or connections to sanctioned individuals or groups.

Other recent events that have genuinely sparked alarm reflect deep-seated fears of renewed war or internal violence. These include the seizure of half a tonne of explosives from a vehicle heading towards Beirut, an incident claimed by Hezbollah, and confrontations between youths and security forces in Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold.

Samy Gemayel, a prominent anti-Hezbollah MP, reacted to the tunnel news by stating, "A tunnel in Matn, explosives in Dahr Al Baidar, and clashes with security forces in the southern suburbs … these are dangerous indicators that necessitate putting a definitive end … to Hezbollah's military organisation across all Lebanese territories."

The clashes he referenced occurred last week in the Gallerie Semaan neighborhood, on the outskirts of Beirut's southern suburbs. Police were dispatched to raid a warehouse containing expired medicines, following a prosecutorial order. Upon their arrival, they were surrounded by "a number of young men," widely understood to be Hezbollah members or supporters, prompting the army's deployment to de-escalate the situation.

Two individuals were detained in connection with the explosives seizure in Dahr Al Baidar, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has directed security forces to broaden their investigation. Hezbollah's assertion that the explosives were solely intended for use against Israel has not allayed fears, given the group's history of involvement in bombings targeting political opponents.

The Lebanese army itself faces pressure, both domestically and internationally (primarily from the US and Israel), for not taking a more proactive stance in curbing Hezbollah's arsenal. Senior Lebanese officials are concerned that a direct confrontation between the army and Hezbollah could ignite a civil war.

A Hezbollah official acknowledged that "no doubt tensions are increasing" but attributed this to US interests in "creating an internal rift" and "internal authorities that seemingly follow every American interest." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly urged President Joseph Aoun to ensure the seized explosives were not returned to Hezbollah, despite the group's demands.

For Hezbollah's political adversaries, the root cause of the current tensions is clear. A senior official from the Lebanese Forces, parliament's largest party and a long-time advocate for Hezbollah's disarmament, stated, "Look, [the situation is] delicate because Hezbollah is refusing to update its system. Remove Hezbollah from the equation and there's nothing delicate any more." They added, "Everybody knows that as long as Hezbollah still has one arm left, we are at risk of another war at any time."