The IDF has uncovered a decade-long secret project by Hezbollah to embed cruise missiles in the homes of impoverished Lebanese families.
About ten years ago, Hezbollah came up with this ingenious plan, as a way to further their own aims at a very small cost. They offered Lebanese residents, particularly in southern areas, to rent a room in their homes for a "special tenant" - a cruise missile. The missiles, equipped with heavy warheads containing hundreds kilograms of explosives, were stored on launchers in rooms with removable roofs for quick deployment.
The project targeted poor Shia families near Tyre, Sidon, and areas south of Beirut, later expanding to purpose-built homes offered at nominal fees.
Hundreds of these missiles are reportedly located south of Beirut, capable of reaching central Israel. Although Hezbollah has never fired these missiles, they have been saving them as a "surprise" for Israel's home front and key infrastructure.
According to Ynet, Hezbollah believed Israel was unaware of or unable to locate these missiles. However, the IDF claims it has known about the project but didn't target them for the follwoing reasons:
1. Concern for civilian casualties, as the families hosting the missiles are considered non-combatants.
2. Lessons from Gaza operations showed that strikes on civilian areas provide propaganda opportunities for enemies.
3. The risk of provoking a full-scale war due to the missiles' heavy warheads.
IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari provided further details on this covert operation, emphasizing the ethical dilemmas posed by Hezbollah's tactics of embedding military assets in civilian areas.
