Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
· collected 2026-07-31 · by Alex Milan Durie
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said that Israeli forces blew up a tunnel system near Lebanon's Beaufort Castle as part of an ongoing campaign to dismantle Hezbollah's infrastructure in southern Lebanon. According to the statement, 700 tons of explosives were used in the operation. The explosions occurred despite a US-brokered "ceasefire" agreement between Israel and Lebanon, which was signed on June 26. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has expressed his desire for an Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territory as he met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss regional stability and security.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Friday, Israeli forces detonated a tunnel system near Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, using 700 tons of explosives, according to Israeli officials. The operation was part of an ongoing effort to dismantle Hezbollah's infrastructure in the region. The tunnel system was allegedly a key part of Hezbollah's plan to infiltrate communities in the Galilee, but its existence and purpose have not been independently verified. This incident occurred despite a US-brokered "ceasefire" agreement between Israel and Lebanon. The blasts were powerful enough to be felt at midnight, according to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA). Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed that the operation was necessary to prevent Hezbollah from carrying out attacks on Israeli communities.
Written for “Israel-Lebanon Border Tensions” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's framing is critical of Israel's actions, describing them as 'blowing up structures' and using phrases like 'violent explosions shattered windows in several homes', implying harm to civilians. The language used by Israeli officials is quoted directly and without apparent critique or correction.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score +0.62 for article 195 · logged 2026-07-31
Israeli forces have carried out a series of powerful detonations near Lebanon’s UNESCO-listed Beaufort Castle, as they continue to occupy southern Lebanon despite a United States-brokered “ceasefire” agreement.
asserted
they → carry → agreement
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement on Friday that the army blew up a tunnel system in the Beaufort area that they claimed formed a key part of Hezbollah’s plan to infiltrate communities in the Galilee.
asserted
they → say → Galilee
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They said about “700 tons of explosives” were used in the operation, describing it as part of an ongoing campaign to dismantle Hezbollah’s infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
asserted
They → want → Lebanon
“Israeli forces triggered very powerful explosions around midnight,” in the area near the “Beaufort fortress”, Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) said.
asserted
Agency → trigger → fortress
An NNA correspondent reported that the violent explosions shattered windows in several homes in the town of Qlayaa due to the force of the blasts and the shockwaves felt by residents throughout the area.
asserted
explosions → report → area
The Crusader-era castle, located in the southern area occupied by Israel, was added last week to UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger.
asserted
castle → locate → Danger
Earlier, NNA also reported that Israeli forces demolished and destroyed a number of caves and houses in the vicinity of al-Mansouri and Majdal Zoun in the Tyre district using several shells.
asserted
forces → report → shells
NNA added that Israeli forces carried out very large explosions at midnight in the areas of Yohmor al-Shaqif, Arnoun and Kfar Tebnit, the sound of which was reportedly heard across the southern regions.
uncertain
sound → add → regions
These developments come despite the signing of a US-sponsored framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon in Washington on June 26.
asserted
developments → come → June
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun visited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara to speak with a number of officials.
asserted
Aoun → visit → officials
In a joint news conference, Aoun 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.”
asserted
we → say → state
Erdogan said: “We wish to join any force that guarantees the stability and security of the region, including any alternative force in Lebanon.”
asserted
that → say → Lebanon
He added that “our support for the Lebanese Armed Forces will continue uninterrupted”, and that “we are ready to assist in the reconstruction of southern Lebanon”.
asserted
we → add → Lebanon
Speaking with Turkiye Today, Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt criticised the recent agreement between Lebanon and Israel, arguing that it does not stipulate a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, but merely speaks of “redeployment”, which he described as a “major trap”.
Israeli forces have advanced more than 10km (6.2 miles) into Lebanese territory in their latest operations in the south of the country.
asserted
forces → speak → country
Since March 2, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed 4,333 people and injured 12,236 others, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
uncertain
attacks → kill → Ministry
