Key facts
- Israeli forces detonated structures in Haddatha and Baraachit in southern Lebanon.
- Israeli drones were reported over Tyre.
- Explosions occurred near Beaufort Castle, with Israel claiming tunnel destruction.
- Hezbollah launched rockets on March 2, 2026, escalating the conflict.
- A ceasefire was established on April 17, 2026, but sporadic violence continues.
Israeli forces conducted detonations in the southern Lebanese towns of Haddatha and Baraachit early Thursday, according to the National News Agency, which also reported Israeli drones flying over Tyre. In a separate incident, Israeli forces triggered powerful explosions near the Crusader-era Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon overnight.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the army had destroyed "terror tunnels in the Beaufort area" using approximately 700 tonnes of explosives, stating the explosions followed a "blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement" by Hezbollah on Wednesday.
The conflict escalated on March 2, 2026, when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel, prompting a massive bombing campaign and ground offensive by the Israeli military. Israel issued forced evacuation orders for over 100 villages near the border, eventually expanding these orders to cover roughly 14.3% of Lebanon's territory and displacing over 1.2 million people. The Israeli military also bombed bridges crossing the Litani River, targeting infrastructure used by Hezbollah.
Despite a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States and signed last month, Israel continues to carry out strikes and artillery shelling in southern Lebanon, and its army occupies areas extending about ten kilometers into Lebanese territory. Hezbollah has not claimed responsibility for attacks since June 20, 2026. Earlier on Friday, Israeli forces also carried out artillery shelling targeting the towns of al-Mansouri, Majdal Zoun and Beit al-Sayyad.