According to intelligence received by the IDF, the bunker, located in the Bourj al-Barajneh area of southern Beirut, housed the terror organization’s most senior leadership. The intelligence was considered sufficiently reliable to justify a massive attack at around 8 PM, and another one at 11 PM. Dozens of planes took part in the attacks, and the building was totally destroyed.

Following the attack, Hizbullah released a statement via its Al-Manar TV broadcasts that the building was no more than a mosque under construction, and that the Hizbullah leadership was untouched.

IDF sources say it is possible that the above is true, given the depth of the bunker under the building. However, even if so, it is felt that keeping the charismatic Hizbullah leader Sheikh Nasrallah trapped or leashed to an underground bunker - either the one that was bombed or another one - is also an achievement.

A senior IDF officer told Arutz-7's Kobi Finkler that Hizbullah has "dozens or more fortified bunkers along the border with Israel. The IDF will employ various means to find the bunkers, some of which have in fact been hit over the past few days." The officer said that the bunkers are dug to a depth of up to 40 meters (130 feet), and include "stocks of weapons and ammunition, as well as communication equipment for giving orders." He even estimated that terrorists sneak out nightly to perpetrate attacks.

In the meantime, the IDF continues Arabic broadcasts urging residents of southern Lebanon to evacuate the region, in order to avoid being targeted in the war against Hizbullah terrorists. Reports continue to indicate that Hizbullah is working to prevent the southern Lebanese area residents from traveling north; Hizbullah needs the civilians where they are to serve as their human shields.

Lebanese leaders continue to call upon the international community to halt the Israeli military operation, turning to the United Nations, the European Union and the Vatican to apply pressure on Jerusalem. Reports from Lebanon indicate 300 people have been killed, over 1,000 injured and close to a half-million displaced in the first week of Israeli assaults against Hizbullah.