Lebanese MP proposes turning Hezbollah tunnels into wine cellars

An independent Christian Lebanese lawmaker has floated a shocking proposal to repurpose Hezbollah tunnels discovered in southern Lebanon, suggesting they be converted into wine cellars rather than destroyed.

Writing on his account on X, MP Adib Abdel Massih declared: "Clusters of bottles, not bombs - that is the Lebanon we dream of."

He said he would submit an official proposal to the Lebanese army and government to preserve the tunnels instead of demolishing them, arguing that they hold "added value" if transformed into sites with economic and tourism potential.

Abdel Massih pointed to the example of Moldova's Milestii Mici tunnels, once dug for military purposes during the Second World War and today recognised as the world's largest wine cellars, housing more than 1.5 million bottles - the oldest dating back to 1968.

The suggestion comes as the Lebanese army implements the government's August decision to enforce the state’s monopoly on arms, a move seen as part of efforts to rein in Hezbollah's military presence following a Lebanon-Israel November ceasefire deal.

The army has been tasked with mapping and dismantling non-state weapons infrastructure, including cross-border tunnels that Israel has long claimed Hezbollah used to threaten northern Israeli towns.

Abdel Massih's proposal was especially controversial given Lebanon's delicate sectarian make-up and power sharing system.

The tunnels were dug by fighters of Hezbollah, a Shia Islamic movement for whom alcohol is religiously forbidden.

"This project would transform controversial or illegal sites into productive national symbols," Abdel Massih claimed. "It expresses our ability as Lebanese to turn challenges into opportunities, just as we can turn our differences into a source of richness and unity."

The MP insisted that such a plan could provide sustainable economic benefits while rebranding the tunnels as symbols of creativity and peace, rather than conflict.

Hezbollah's tunnels in southern Lebanon constitute a sophisticated and extensive underground network used primarily for military purposes, including storing weapons, moving fighters and supplies discreetly, and launching attacks against Israel.

The tunnels are dug deep into the rocky terrain of southern Lebanon, often requiring advanced expertise, heavy machinery, and substantial resources, with some tunnels reportedly extending several kilometres and connecting Hezbollah's strongholds across Lebanon.