Senior Israeli military officers are flying to Moscow to update their Russian counterparts about an operation launched last week to “expose and thwart” Hezbollah tunnels burrowed under Israel’s border with Lebanon.

The Israeli military issued a statement Monday saying the officers would depart Tuesday “to provide an update regarding Operation Northern Shield and other operational issues.”

Israel has discovered at least two tunnels since launching the operation last week that it says were built by Hezbollah to carry out attacks against Israel.

Russia and Israel have maintained a hotline to coordinate operations and prevent any collisions between warplanes over neighboring Syria.

Israel frequently carries out airstrikes against Iran and its allies in Syria in an effort to prevent sophisticated weaponry from reaching Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Also Monday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gadi Eizenkott spoke with commanders and soldiers involved in the operation to detect and destroy Hezbollah terrorist tunnels, as well as entering the tunnels discovered to date. He was accompanied by Major-General Yoel Struk, who is in charge of the ongoing operation.

IDF Spokesman Brigadier-General Ronen Manelis added that the Saudi newspaper a-Shark el-Awsat warns the continuation of the operation along the border will lead to a deteriorating of the current situation.

Manelis explained that in addition to the ground forces operating along the border, the air force and navy stand ready to respond to anything that may occur as a result. He added that there has been quiet along the border for twelve years following the war, and if they wish, it can continue for another twelve or more but the current threat from the tunnels must and will be eliminated.

Manelis was asked if the military takes the Hezbollah threat to “conquer all of the Galil” seriously, and he said they cannot and “we won’t permit it”, adding “in their best scenario, they might be able to take over some small village or area along Route 90, adding the military stands prepared with all its might for any eventuality”.

“Our response to this would be something like in Dahieh Beirut during the Second Lebanon War but several times more than seen in Beirut and the responsibility will fall on the “Two Aouns”, referring to Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Lebanese Army Chief Joseph Aoun.

Manelis explained that Hezbollah has been working to add to its threat that it poses to Israel, and in addition to its weapons and missiles, it has dug terror tunnels, working for four years without interruption. “They worked there till last Tuesday” stated Manelis, referring to the two tunnels already discovered, adding that while they do not have sufficient funds to pay their wounded, they have invested tens or possibly hundreds of millions of dollars to construct the tunnels, which was to be a primary weapon in a war against Israel.

(YWN / AP)