On July 31, 2026, Israeli forces exploded about 700 tonnes of explosives near the UNESCO-listed Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, demolishing tunnels used by Hezbollah militants, according to Israeli officials [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz jointly announced the operation, stating the tunnels were part of Hezbollah’s plan to infiltrate northern Israeli communities in Galilee [2, 3, 4, 5]. The blasts sent shockwaves through nearby towns including Qlayaa, Yohmor al-Shaqif, Arnoun, and Kfar Tebnit, shattering windows and damaging homes [2, 3, 5].

The detonation occurred despite a US-brokered framework agreement signed by Israel and Lebanon on June 26, 2026, which laid out phased Israeli troop withdrawals and Lebanese army deployments aimed at disarming Hezbollah [1, 2, 4, 5]. The operation was described by Israeli officials as a response to recent Hezbollah ceasefire violations and part of a continuing campaign to dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in southern Lebanon [2, 3, 4, 5].

Since March 2, 2026, Israeli strikes on Lebanon have resulted in over 4,300 deaths and more than 12,000 injuries, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry [4, 5]. Israeli forces have also occupied parts of southern Lebanon for years and advanced more than 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory during recent operations [1, 4].

During a visit to Turkey, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun emphasized Lebanon’s goal of full Israeli withdrawal and the return of displaced Lebanese citizens to their homes. He said, "This is what we are determined to achieve: an Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territory, the return of our displaced people to their villages, and their simultaneous return to their state and homeland" [2].

The Lebanese army began deploying in selected pilot areas such as Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh on July 21 as part of the June 26 framework agreement [4]. The new deployment is intended to cement Lebanese government control and help disarm Hezbollah, but the recent Israeli operation near Beaufort Castle indicates ongoing friction.

The Israeli military confirmed the tunnel demolitions took place around midnight on July 31. The blasts were among the largest in the area in recent years and signal continued Israeli efforts to curtail Hezbollah’s underground network connecting Lebanon to northern Israel [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].