Israel has destroyed a major network of Hezbollah tunnels beneath the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, the Israeli government said on Thursday. The underground infrastructure was built by the Iran-backed group over two decades and was used to store weapons and support its operations in the area.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said the operation had secured Israeli control of the ridge both above and below ground. "This is strategic terrorist infrastructure that was built over two decades, with Iranian funding and planning," they said in a joint statement. They added that its destruction "completes the achievement of operational control over the Ali al-Taher ridge above and below ground".

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported a "massive explosion" on the ridge in the Nabatieh region. The blast caused tremors and a powerful rumble across the area. AFP journalists in southern Lebanon also reported hearing "huge explosions" on Thursday evening.

The Israeli military said the tunnel network stretched for more than two kilometres. It contained dozens of Iranian-made rockets, missiles and UAVs. The site also held machine guns, dozens of anti-tank missiles and hundreds of mines and explosive devices. The underground compound included a command centre belonging to Hezbollah's Badr unit, according to the Israeli army.

An Israeli military official told AFP that some Hezbollah militants operating around the ridge had abandoned the area. Others were "eliminated by aerial strikes and artillery fire", the official said.

Israel announced last week that its forces had captured the Ali al-Taher ridge. The area is strategically important due to its location in southern Lebanon and its position overlooking nearby areas.

The latest operation comes amid a wider regional conflict involving Hezbollah, Israel and Iran. In March, Hezbollah entered the conflict in support of Iran, drawing Lebanon into the regional war. Fighting has since become less intense following an understanding reached between Iran and the United States in June. Lebanon and Israel also reached an agreement during the period.

The United States sponsored negotiations between Lebanon and Israel. During the talks, Washington proposed that the Lebanese army take control of the Ali al-Taher ridge. However, Hezbollah rejected the proposal, according to a source close to the parties.

Lebanese authorities say Israeli strikes have killed more than 4,300 people since March. Israeli forces also continue to hold a so-called "security zone" in southern Lebanon.