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Lebanon’s president condemns Israeli explosions near historic castle
Aoun said 700 tons of explosives damaged the UNESCO-listed fortress area and undermined ceasefire talks with Israel.
On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the military destroyed a network of Hezbollah tunnels beneath Beaufort Castle using approximately 700 tons of explosives in the Arnoun area.
The Israeli Army claimed the tunnels were a "key component" of Hezbollah's plan to infiltrate Galilee communities, stating the destruction responded to what they described as the group's violations of the cease-fire agreement.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reported the blast generated seismic waves equivalent to a magnitude 3.8 earthquake, targeting UNESCO-listed sites recently added to its World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated the systematic destruction amounted to a "clear ceasefire breach" that violated Lebanon's sovereignty, while President Aoun condemned the operation as a "highly dangerous escalation."
Diplomatic talks in Rome regarding the three-party framework face potential derailment as the timing threatens progress on the U.S.-sponsored framework agreement, with Aoun urging the international community to "put an end to these violations.
The United Nations expressed concern on Saturday, August 1st, over the continued demolitions carried out by Israel in southern Lebanon, despite a ceasefire.