The military has said it will \u201cnot allow Hezbollah terrorists to exit the underground tunnel network or move in the area of the ridge.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u063a\u0627\u0631\u0629 \u0625\u0633\u0631\u0627\u0626\u064a\u0644\u064a\u0629 \u0627\u0633\u062a\u0647\u062f\u0641\u062a \u0645\u0646\u0637\u0642\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0628\u0637\u064a\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0641\u0648\u0642\u0627 \u062c\u0646\u0648\u0628 \u0644\u0628\u0646\u0627\u0646 pic.twitter.com\/BTMyBcqqTN<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 \u0647\u0646\u0627 \u0644\u0628\u0646\u0627\u0646 (@thisislebnews) July 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir toured the Beaufort Castle area in southern Lebanon during the morning, including a major Hezbollah tunnel system built beneath the ridge, the military reported.\n<\/p>\n Zamir said the Beaufort Ridge is a strategic area that is \u201csaturated with terror infrastructure,\u201d according to remarks provided by the IDF.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Hezbollah terror organization, financed and directed by Iran, built underground routes in the area over the course of decades to threaten the northern communities. Our forces now control the key terrain aboveground and these underground routes belowground,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Zamir said that the Lebanese army \u201cis required to fulfill its commitment under the historic agreement that was signed, and act to clear the area of Hezbollah terrorists,\u201d referring to areas in southern Lebanon outside of the IDF\u2019s control.<\/p>\n Zamir was referring to the agreement signed<\/a> between Israel and Lebanon last month in Washington following US-hosted talks. It calls for the disarmament of the Iran-backed terror group, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, and the deployment of the Lebanese army there, starting with two \u201cpilot\u201d areas. Hezbollah has rejected the deal, which does not set a timetable for an Israeli withdrawal.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the same time, the IDF will continue to operate decisively to remove threats in Lebanese territory and is prepared to launch a rapid offensive if the ceasefire is violated,\u201d Zamir added.<\/p>\n \t Israel is currently maintaining a security zone in southern Lebanon, from which residents have been ordered to evacuate, and where troops are dismantling the terror group\u2019s infrastructure, which was used for attacks on Israel.<\/p>\n Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Sunday that some Christian villages in Lebanon have asked to be annexed by Israel in order to receive protection from Hezbollah.<\/p>\n Talking up Israel\u2019s treatment of Christians in the Middle East during a Fox News interview, Netanyahu said that \u201cthe Christian villages in Lebanon, some of them have actually asked to be annexed to Israel because we protect them against the Hezbollah fanatics who want to kill them \u2014 and we do the same things with Christians everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n The premier did not specify which Christian villages he was referring to, or if such calls were made privately or publicly.<\/p>\n Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar and Defense Minister Israel Katz have both said Israel does not have territorial ambitions in Lebanon, but that it won\u2019t withdraw from the security zone it has established in southern Lebanon so long as Hezbollah remains a threat.<\/p>\n Later in the interview, Netanyahu said the recent Israel-Lebanon deal brokered by Washington has shown that he and US President Donald Trump \u201chave more cards to play\u201d in terms of expanding Israel\u2019s ties in the region, adding that Lebanon \u201cwould like to free itself of Hezbollah.\u201d<\/p>\n Netanyahu: We also take care of our friends, especially the Christians in the Middle East. The Christian villages in Lebanon, some of them have actually asked to be annexed to Israel. We protect Christians in the Middle East pic.twitter.com\/SyeCM2PHMm<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Acyn (@Acyn) July 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Without offering specific evidence, Netanyahu argued: \u201cIt\u2019s not only the Christians in Lebanon who asked for our protection. It\u2019s the Druze, it\u2019s Muslims, the Sunni Muslims and quite a few of the Shiite Muslims too\u2026 they\u2019d like to free Lebanon. I hope we can get more peace deals.\u201d\n<\/p>\n While not a formal peace deal, the Israel-Lebanon framework formalized both countries\u2019 intent to eventually normalize relations following the disarmament of Hezbollah and a full Israeli withdrawal from its southern Lebanon security zone.<\/p>\n Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into the war with Iran in March by attacking Israel in support of Tehran, resulting in the destruction of large parts of southern Lebanon and the disruption of the lives of those living in northern Israel. The US-sponsored efforts to halt fighting between the two sides have reduced hostilities, but have yet to achieve peace or bring the war to a definite end. On Saturday, the IDF said it killed<\/a> an armed Hezbollah operative after a manhunt.<\/p>\n Agencies contributed to this report.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t The war with Iran has been draining for all of us in Israel. But when I heard about a high casualty incident \u2013 ballistic missile impacts in Arad and Dimona that left nearly 200 people wounded \u2013 I drank a cup of coffee, packed a bag, and headed south.<\/p>\n There, I spoke with Shilgit, the head of an after-school program for underprivileged youth. Standing outside her destroyed center, Shilgit said it was a miracle that no children were hurt and spoke about the community coming together in the hours since.<\/p>\n As a Times of Israel reporter, I\u2019m committed to telling stories of resilience like Shilgit\u2019s. But my colleagues and I can’t do this alone. If you value work like this, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to keep real human reporting like this going.<\/p>\n \u2014 Stav Levaton, military reporter<\/p>\n \t\t\t
\t\t\t
\t\t\tAlready a member? Sign in to stop seeing this<\/a><\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t That\u2019s why we started the Times of Israel – to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.<\/p>\n So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven\u2019t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.<\/p>\n For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.<\/p>\n Thank you, \t\t\t
\t\t\t
\t\t\tAlready a member? Sign in to stop seeing this<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26182362561275-e1783062250967-640x400.jpg\")
<\/a>
\n\t\tAn IDF soldier directs an APC near the border with Lebanon in northern Israel, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ariel Schalit)<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tWe can’t do this work alone.\t\t\t<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Untitled-design-4-200x200.jpg\" "\\"\\"\/")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tYes, I’ll join\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tYes, I’ll join\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tYou’re a dedicated reader\t\t\t<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/334x334-200x200.png\" "\\"\\"\/")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tJoin Our Community\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tJoin Our Community\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t