UN says Israeli demolitions in Lebanon 'deeply concerning'

The United Nations has voiced significant concern regarding Israel's ongoing demolitions in southern Lebanon, despite a ceasefire in its conflict with Hezbollah. The office of the U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon issued a statement highlighting the "deeply concerning" scale of detonations and demolitions, noting their devastating impact on civilian infrastructure, cultural heritage, and community memory. This statement followed large overnight detonations by the Israeli military near the UNESCO-listed Beaufort Castle.

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The scale of the detonations and demolitions taking place in south Lebanon is deeply concerning, with a devastating impact on civilian infrastructure, cultural heritage, and the collective memory of communities

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz asserted that the army had destroyed "terror tunnels in the Beaufort area" using roughly 700 tons of explosives. Beaufort Castle was recently added to UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger. Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun condemned the detonation as an "extremely dangerous escalation" and a direct threat to a framework agreement recently reached with Israel during U.S.-sponsored talks. This agreement involves Lebanon's army disarming Hezbollah and Israel withdrawing from designated zones where Lebanese forces will deploy.

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terror tunnels in the Beaufort area

President Aoun suggested that the timing of the blasts, preceding another round of talks in Rome, sends "negative messages" and undermines international efforts to consolidate stability. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported multiple powerful detonations in other southern areas, some audible across the region. The agency also reported an Israeli strike on Saturday that wounded two people. The U.N. urged an end to this "escalating pattern of destruction," emphasizing the availability of diplomatic channels for dispute resolution. Meanwhile, the Israeli military reported killing several Hezbollah fighters in what it termed a "security zone" and stated an Israeli soldier sustained moderate injuries. Hezbollah initiated attacks on Israel on March 2, drawing a massive Israeli bombing campaign and ground offensive that Lebanese authorities claim has resulted in over 4,300 deaths.

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an extremely dangerous escalation