Beaufort castle: Israel says it destroyed tunnels

Explosions were reported overnight near the UNESCO-listed Beaufort castle in southern Lebanon, with Israel saying its forces destroyed tunnels used by Hezbollah in the area.

Lebanon's National News Agency said Israeli forces triggered very powerful explosions around midnight in the area of the Beaufort fortress. An AFP correspondent in a nearby village heard large explosions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that the army destroyed “terror tunnels in the Beaufort area” using about 700 tons of explosives. They said the detonations followed what they called a blatant ceasefire violation by Hezbollah on Wednesday.

The Israeli army accused Hezbollah of launching an explosive drone at an Israeli military vehicle in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has not claimed any attack on Israel since June 20.

The Crusader-era castle is in a southern area occupied by Israel and was added last week to UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger. Violence has declined since a US-Iran agreement signed last month and a Lebanon-Israel framework deal, but Lebanon continues to report Israeli strikes, artillery shelling and detonations in southern villages.