Tremor recorded as Israel says Hezbollah tunnels destroyed in south Lebanon

Israel said Thursday it demolished key tunnels built by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group beneath the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, with a 4.1 magnitude tremor recorded in the area.

"This is strategic terrorist infrastructure that was built over two decades, with Iranian funding and planning," said a joint statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz.

The destruction "completes the achievement of operational control over the Ali al-Taher ridge -- above and below ground", the statement added.

The United States Geological Survey meanwhile reported a 4.1 magnitude tremor in the area, after Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israel carried out a "massive explosion" on the Ali al-Taher ridge in the Nabatieh region, "causing tremors and a powerful rumble".

AFP journalists in south Lebanon also said they heard "huge explosions" on Thursday evening.