What Happened The animosity between Israel and Iran is simmering beneath the Israel-Lebanon border. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Dec. 4 that they had launched Operation Northern Shield the night before to destroy a small number of cross-border tunnels. Excavated by Iran-backed Hezbollah, the tunnels reportedly cross Israel's northern border with Lebanon, near the Israeli village of Metula just west of the Golan Heights. According to IDF spokesman Ronan Manelis, the IDF has long prepared for this operation. As the IDF assesses Hezbollah's potential reaction, Israeli authorities have warned northern farmers not to approach the border, called up some reservists and mobilized artillery units. Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah is expected to issue a statement on Dec. 4 in response to the Israeli operation. Meanwhile, the United Nations Interim Force has reinforced its presence in Lebanon, while major political leaders in the country have met to determine their response.