Poland Says Belarus Using Hamas-Style Migrant Tunnels In Hybrid War Escalation (Worthy News In-Depth)

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

WARSAW/MINSK/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Polish officials say they have uncovered Hamas-style underground tunnels along the Belarus border that were allegedly used to funnel migrants into the European Union as part of what they describe as a Russian-backed campaign to destabilize the West.

The tunnels were likely built with support from Iran-backed groups such as Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Islamic State (ISIS), and “certain Kurdish factions,” according to military experts cited by British media. Many of these organizations are designated as terrorist groups by Israel, the European Union, the United States, and other Western governments.

Lieutenant Colonel Katarzyna Zdanowicz of Poland’s Podlaskie Border Guard Unit told Britain’s The Daily Telegraph daily that officers discovered “a total of four tunnels under the border with Belarus, all in 2025.”

Polish authorities said one of the largest tunnels was found near the eastern village of Narewka, measuring about 1.5 meters (nearly 5 feet) high and extending roughly 60 meters (about 200 feet). The entrance was concealed in a forest on the Belarusian side, investigators said.

Authorities confirmed the passage was used by about 180 migrants, mainly from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Most were detained after emerging into Poland.

POLAND CITES “HIGH LEVEL OF EXPERTISE”

Polish officials said the tunnels appeared professionally constructed, with concrete supports reinforcing narrow passageways.

“Physical and electronic security measures at the border, such as thermal imaging cameras and detection systems, allow us to immediately respond to any attempted violations of the state border, even underground ones,” Zdanowicz said.

Officials suggested that individuals with “a high level of expertise” were involved in designing or digging the tunnels. Some Polish authorities indicated that specialists from the Middle East may have assisted Belarus.

Military analysts said groups known for developing complex tunnel networks include Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as ISIS and certain Kurdish factions.

Lynette Nusbacher, a military historian, said it was “plausible” that Iranian-backed groups such as Hezbollah possess such capabilities but stopped short of confirming involvement.

INSPIRED BY MIDDLE EASTERN TUNNEL WARFARE

“One of the things we immediately saw after the 2006 Lebanon war was parades of cement mixers queuing up in southern Lebanon … we were seeing loads and loads of Iranian tunnel construction,” Nusbacher said.

“We also have ample evidence of Hamas doing the same thing in Gaza. So if you want that deep tunneling expertise, then the answer to your question is going to be with Middle Easterners,” she added.

Major Rob Campbell, a fortifications expert and former British Army sapper, said Hamas could be a possible suspect after reviewing footage of the tunnels. “If I had to speculate, experts from the Middle East would be Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad,” he said.

Sarit Zehavi, a former Israeli intelligence colonel, said Iranian-backed proxies were only one possible explanation. “Does Hezbollah or any Iranian proxies have this capability? Yes. Are they the only ones? No. Probably others also have the knowledge, from Kurdish militias in Syria to ISIS,” she said.

None of the groups mentioned have publicly commented on the allegations, according to a Worthy News review.

MIGRATION AS A TOOL OF HYBRID WARFARE

Poland has long accused Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, of orchestrating migrant flows toward the EU as part of a broader hybrid strategy.

Even before Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, thousands of migrants were directed toward Poland’s eastern frontier, prompting Warsaw to construct a 200-kilometer (124-mile) steel barrier equipped with hundreds of surveillance cameras.

Since then, Polish and other European officials have accused Russia of expanding hybrid tactics, including cyberattacks, sabotage, and disinformation campaigns — allegations Moscow has repeatedly denied.

Polish Deputy Interior Minister Czesław Mroczek suggested in a recent radio interview that the use of tunnels reflected efforts to bypass reinforced border controls.

“Digging these tunnels means our effectiveness in stopping migration is so high that it was decided to bring in specialists,” he said.

Polish officials say they are capable of detecting and sealing underground routes but warn that new methods may continue to emerge as tensions along NATO’s eastern flank remain elevated.

BROADER MIGRATION DEBATE IN EUROPE

Belarus and Russia have not publicly commented on the tunnel allegations.

The reported discoveries come amid heightened tensions in Europe over migration from conflict-affected and economically struggling regions.

Some leaders, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, argue that uncontrolled migration — particularly from predominantly Muslim countries — threatens European security, Western democratic values, and what he has described as Europe’s “Judeo-Christian traditions.”

However, several churches and humanitarian organizations maintain that Europe should remain open to genuine refugees fleeing war and persecution.

With limited shelter capacity, many migrants have been seen camping outdoors in several European cities, including in Brussels near European Union headquarters.

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