It was clear that this was coming when Pompeo met with Netanyahu in Brussels yesterday and said Israel has the absolute right to defend itself while wearing a yarmulke:

Israel said it had begun a military operation to expose and thwart offensive tunnels it said Hezbollah had been building across the Lebanese border https://t.co/FXIKdbg8PB — The New York Times (@nytimes) December 4, 2018

"The Iranians have changed their tactics. They’re moving everything to Lebanon”https://t.co/bqxul69Le5 — Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) December 2, 2018

BREAKING: We have just launched Operation Northern Shield to expose and neutralize cross-border attack tunnels dug by Hezbollah from #Lebanon to #Israel. #NorthernShield pic.twitter.com/HKgnbhn23I — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 4, 2018

Israel’s operation on Lebanon border is most action we have seen in that area since 2006 war. Israeli strikes/actions vs Hezbollah have been taking place in Syria. Still this looks like a limited operation. No one has interest so far in waging wider war but mistakes do happen. — Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) December 4, 2018

The #terror tunnels built by #Hezbollah, crossing from Lebanon into Israel, are a gross violation of Israeli sovereignty & #UNSC Res 1701. Israel launched Op #NorthernShield to neutralize these tunnels & to protect its citizens and its territory from Hezbollah's aggression. pic.twitter.com/5QIiBgMOzP — Israel Foreign Min. (@IsraelMFA) December 4, 2018

Does anyone believe this?

It is Israel that attacks all of its neighbors: Iran, Syria and Lebanon. Maybe I missed something, but I have seen that happen dozens of times over the past two years, but not the reverse.

Lebanon: #Israel is digging for tunnels from the Lebanese side. This is bad news for Hezbollah, as it indicates stronger Israeli posture. Israel avoided doing this in the past as it feared a retaliation from Hezbollah as this move would greatly undermine the balance of power. — WW3 Updates (@ww3updates) December 4, 2018

To understand the effect of this operation, ignore the possibility of war now. Instead focus on the possibility of war later, started by the Israeli side being more confident in their ability to deal with Hezbollah after eliminating their subterranean capabilities. — WW3 Updates (@ww3updates) December 4, 2018

To understand the effect of this operation, ignore the possibility of war now. Instead focus on the possibility of war later, started by the Israeli side being more confident in their ability to deal with Hezbollah after eliminating their subterranean capabilities. — WW3 Updates (@ww3updates) December 4, 2018

In this sense, Hezbollah is facing its first defeat since it's inception. Nasrallah has blinked, Netanyahu is eliminating Hezbollah's trump card before it's even used. In situations like this, it's "use it or lose it". Hezbollah was caught off guard and Israel wins this for free — WW3 Updates (@ww3updates) December 4, 2018

Netanyahu is actually in a deteriorating political situation over his corruption scandal. Could this be phase one of a Hanukkah miracle?