DistantNews
Support us
🇱🇧 Lebanon /Conflict & Security

Aoun: Israeli blasts near historic castle threaten deal, stability

From Naharnet · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Israeli forces detonated powerful explosives near Lebanon's Beaufort fortress, a UNESCO-listed castle, destroying Hezbollah tunnels.
  • Lebanese President Aoun condemned the blasts as an escalation and a threat to a recent deal with Israel, warning it undermines stability efforts.
  • Israel stated the army destroyed tunnels used by Hezbollah, accusing the group of violating a ceasefire, while Lebanon's culture ministry expressed concern over potential damage to the castle.

Israeli forces detonated powerful explosives near Lebanon's Beaufort fortress, destroying Hezbollah tunnels and drawing condemnation from Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. The blasts, described as "extremely dangerous escalation" by Aoun, threatened a recent deal with Israel aimed at disarming Hezbollah and withdrawing Israeli troops.

Israeli forces triggered very powerful explosions in the area of the Beaufort fortress

— Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA)Reporting on the overnight explosions near the Crusader-era castle.

Aoun stated the detonations, which created ground waves equivalent to a 3.8 magnitude earthquake, sent negative messages and undermined international efforts for stability. Lebanon's National News Agency reported the explosions occurred in the area of the Crusader-era castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site recently added to the List of World Heritage in Danger. The culture ministry warned that vibrations from the explosions might have damaged the castle's vicinity, but an assessment was impossible as the site is "under occupation."

an extremely dangerous escalation and a direct threat to the process which was launched as part of the framework agreement

— President Joseph AounCondemning the Israeli detonations near the Beaufort fortress.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the army destroyed "terror tunnels" using approximately 700 tons of explosives. They claimed the tunnel network served as a central command center for Hezbollah and was built over two decades. The Israeli army accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire agreement by launching an explosive drone at a military vehicle.

the army had destroyed "terror tunnels in the Beaufort area" using approximately 700 tons of explosives

— Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel KatzStating the army's action against Hezbollah tunnels.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri condemned the detonations, while Hezbollah urged Lebanese authorities to act diplomatically to stop the "destructive crimes." The blasts occurred despite a ceasefire that came into force on June 20, following a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding.

sends negative messages and undermines international efforts aimed at consolidating stability

— President Joseph AounCommenting on the timing of the blasts ahead of further talks.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Naharnet in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog