Israeli detonations near Beaufort Castle damage homes in southern Lebanon
Israeli forces carried out powerful explosions near Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese reports and statements from Israeli leaders. The blasts were reported around midnight in an area close to the Crusader-era fortress, which sits in the south of the country near territory occupied by Israel. Residents in nearby towns said the shockwaves were felt widely across the area.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement that the army had blown up a tunnel system in the Beaufort area. They said the tunnel network was linked to Hezbollah and was intended to support infiltration into communities in the Galilee. The statement said about 700 tons of explosives were used in the operation, which they described as part of a wider campaign to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon's National News Agency said the explosions shattered windows in several homes in Qlayaa and caused damage in the surrounding area. Its correspondent reported that the force of the blasts and the resulting shockwaves were felt by residents throughout the region. The agency also said caves and houses near al-Mansouri and Majdal Zoun in the Tyre district were demolished or destroyed, and that very large explosions were heard in Yohmor al-Shaqif, Arnoun and Kfar Tebnit.
The incident matters because it comes amid continuing tension along the Lebanon-Israel frontier and despite a United States-brokered ceasefire framework agreed in Washington on June 26. The area around Beaufort Castle has added symbolic and strategic weight because it lies in southern Lebanon and has been the focus of repeated military activity. The site was also added last week to UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger, underlining the risk to a historic landmark caught in an active conflict zone.
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Beaufort Castle is a Crusader-era fortress and one of the best-known historic sites in southern Lebanon. Its location near the border has made the surrounding area vulnerable to military operations and cross-border escalation. The latest detonations also fit into a broader pattern of Israeli claims that it is targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in the south, while Lebanese authorities describe the effects on civilian property and local communities.
What remains unclear is the full extent of the damage, whether there were any casualties, and how far the tunnel system extended. It is also not clear how the latest explosions will affect the fragile ceasefire framework or the wider security situation in southern Lebanon. Further official statements from both sides would be needed to confirm the operational details and any next steps.
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