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by Naharnet Newsdesk 01 August 2026, 12:27<\/p>\n
President Joseph Aoun has warned that Israeli detonations near a UNESCO-listed castle \u00a0threatened a recent deal with Israel, which in turn said it had razed Hezbollah tunnels there.<\/p>\n
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that “Israeli forces triggered very powerful explosions” overnight, specifically “in the area of the Beaufort fortress”, a Crusader-era castle located near the southern border occupied by Israel.<\/p>\n
Israeli Prime Minister\u00a0Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the army had destroyed “terror tunnels in the Beaufort area” using approximately 700 tons of explosives.<\/p>\n
Aoun labelled it “an extremely dangerous escalation” and “a direct threat to the process which was launched as part of the framework agreement” reached with Israel during U.S.-sponsored talks last month, his office said.<\/p>\n
Under the Israel-Lebanon deal, Lebanon’s army is to disarm Hezbollah and the Israeli military is to withdraw from “pilot zones” where Lebanese forces will subsequently deploy.<\/p>\n
The timing of the blasts ahead of another round of talks with Israel in Rome next week “sends negative messages and undermines international efforts aimed at consolidating stability,” Aoun added.<\/p>\n
The NNA said huge blasts resounded over a large area, shattering glass in nearby villages, while an AFP correspondent heard large explosions and saw dust covering a swathe of forest area.<\/p>\n
Citing Lebanon’s National Center for Geophysics, Aoun’s statement said the detonations “created ground waves equivalent to a 3.8 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale.”<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned “the ongoing Israeli aggressions in the south”, including “the damage to archaeological sites… that constitute a precious part of the history of our homeland.”<\/p>\n
– ‘Under occupation’ –<\/p>\n
Beaufort castle was added last week to UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger.<\/p>\n
Lebanon’s culture ministry said the explosions struck “the area opposite the fortress”, warning that “the vibrations from the explosions may have caused damage” in the castle’s vicinity.<\/p>\n
It said technical teams were unable to conduct an on-the-ground assessment because “the site is under occupation”.<\/p>\n
The Israeli army said that “the tunnel network served as a central command center” for Hezbollah and consisted of “several underground levels that were built over the course of two decades”.<\/p>\n
Netanyahu and Katz said the explosions followed a “blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement” by Hezbollah, which Israel’s army accused on Wednesday of launching an explosive drone at a military vehicle.<\/p>\n
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, condemned the detonations, while the Iran-backed group urged Lebanese authorities to act “at all political and diplomatic levels to stop the destructive crimes being carried out by the enemy.”<\/p>\n
Hezbollah has not claimed any attacks since a ceasefire with Israel came into force on June 20 after a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding on ending the broader Middle East war.<\/p>\n
While violence has declined since then, Lebanon continues to report Israeli strikes and artillery shelling on the south, as well as detonations of buildings in southern villages.<\/p>\n
The NNA reported three “violent” explosions on Friday evening on the outskirts of Taybeh.<\/p>\n
Iran-backed Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2 with attacks on Israel.<\/p>\n
Israel retaliated with a massive bombing campaign and a ground offensive that Lebanese authorities say have killed more than 4,300 people.<\/p>\n
Israel’s army continues to occupy areas of southern Lebanon extending about 10 kilometers (six miles) into Lebanese territory along the border.<\/p>\n
Source: Agence France Presse<\/p>\n
Copyright \u00a9 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n
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