BEIRUT, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army on Thursday started destroying the tunnels allegedly dug by Lebanon's Hezbollah into northern Israel, a Lebanese military source told Xinhua.
"A large explosion was heard Thursday afternoon on the borders between Lebanon and Israel in Ramya hills," said the source who asked not to be identified.
The source added that the Lebanese army and the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) cut off the road that leads to the tunnels' location in this area while sending reinforcement units to the area.
Earlier in the day, UNIFIL's spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said that the Israeli army informed the UNIFIL about its intention to blow up the tunnels, the National News Agency reported.
Tenenti said that the UNIFIL also informed the Lebanese army about Israel's plan.
Meanwhile, a number of citizens in Nabatieh in southern Lebanon received voice calls from the Israel army which urged them to stay away from the tunnels' locations, Elnashra, an online independent newspaper reported.
"The Israeli army will destroy Hezbollah's tunnels very soon," said the call, which asked local citizens to avoid traveling along the borders for two hours.
The call also threatened to strongly retaliate against those who plan to hinder Israel's operation.
On Dec. 4, the Israeli army launched Northern Shield operation to "locate and thwart" these tunnels. Israel said it has so far uncovered four such tunnels dug by Hezbollah.
Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006 which ended in a ceasefire.
