Lebanese Army: OId, empty tunnel discovered in Aqoura

BEIRUT — The Lebanese Army stated on Thursday that it "discovered a tunnel" on Tuesday while conducting training exercises in Aqoura (Jbeil).

"A specialized military unit subsequently arrived and inspected the tunnel, finding that it was old, incomplete and devoid of any equipment or contents," the statement added.

The Lebanese Army added that "investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the tunnel’s excavation."

The Lebanese Army's statement comes only three days after the institution said that it had inspected a tunnel discovered in the Fanar area, which "contained no weapons or military equipment." The discovery fueled speculation over whether Hezbollah, which maintains an extensive network of tunnels in southern Lebanon, was connected to the site. Lebanese intelligence officials reportedly told the village’s mayor, however, that the excavation was part of an attempt to search for gold.

The discoveries come amid heightened tensions over Hezbollah’s military activities in Lebanon. Earlier this month, Lebanese authorities seized hundreds of kilograms of explosives belonging to the group along the Dahr al-Baidar road, which links Beirut to the Bekaa Valley. Hezbollah acknowledged ownership of the explosives, saying they were intended for use against Israeli forces. Some observers, however, have suggested they may have been intended for political assassinations.