Israeli military forces carry out planned detonations near Lebanon’s Beaufort Castle, a UNESCO-listed site, in southern Lebanon. According to the Israeli military, the operations are aimed at destroying part of a Hezbollah tunnel network in the Beaufort area. Multiple outlets report that the Israel Defense Forces say they used about 700 tonnes of explosives during the demolitions.
Residents and observers in nearby southern Lebanese towns report hearing blasts and seeing impacts in the area of the fortress. Al Jazeera also describes reports of explosions near the castle and notes that the detonations occur while Israel says it is targeting tunnels associated with Hezbollah.
The accounts reflect Israel’s stated objective of destroying tunnel infrastructure, while other reporting focuses on the blasts and the effects being reported around the Beaufort area. The sources do not provide independent verification of the extent of tunnel damage or details of casualties in the immediate reports provided.
