RIYADH, July 31, 2026 (Arab News) – Israel said it has destroyed tunnels under Beaufort ridge in southern Lebanon belonging to Hezbollah, the prime minister and defense minister announced late on Thursday.

The Israeli military used 700 tons of explosives to demolish what they say was a tunnel system belonging to the Lebanese group.

Footage circulating online showed massive explosions causing ash to sweep across nearby towns and villages.

The IDF released footage that they claimed showed the sites being used to store weapons and act as a Hezbollah command centre.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz categorized the operation as a response to Hezbollah’s supposed violation of a truce agreed this week.

“The State of Israel will not accept any violation of the ceasefire agreement. Any attempt by Hezbollah to harm IDF troops or Israeli civilians will be met with a severe and powerful response that will exact a heavy price from the terrorist organization,” a statement said.

The Israeli leaders said the military will remain in southern Lebanon to deal with Hezbollah infrastructure.

According to the Times of Israel the demolition was planned for an earlier date but was postponed because of the framework deal reached in June.

The IDF in its own statement said it demolished “several key underground routes in the Beaufort Ridge area.”

“Over the past several weeks, IDF troops completed securing the Beaufort Ridge area, while taking control of and clearing the underground infrastructure and preparing it for destruction,” the military said.

The Israeli military had already on July 13 demolished a tunnel near the Beaufort Ridge.

The June deal called for the Lebanese military to deploy in areas in southern Lebanon where Hezbollah had previously held a military presence and influence, paving the way for Israel to withdraw from the buffer zone it holds in the south.

Technical teams from each side will meet from August 4 to August 6 and focus on advancing the implementation of the framework agreement, meant to lead to an eventual peace deal between Israel and Lebanon.