Israeli military chief threatens Lebanon with new aggression from Beaufort Castle
Israel’s military chief Eyal Zamir has threatened Lebanon with a “swift offensive” during a field visit to Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, a site recently occupied by Israeli forces.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Israeli army said Zamir toured troops stationed in the Beaufort area — known in Arabic as Qalaat al-Shaqif — alongside senior commanders.
Despite near-daily Israeli violations of the ceasefire, Zamir called for a transition to a “swift offensive” if Hezbollah resistance breaches the truce.
He described Beaufort Castle as a “strategic point dominating its surroundings.”
Zamir also claimed Hezbollah had built “extensive tunnel systems and underground infrastructure” over decades to threaten Israeli settlements in northern occupied territories.
In late May, Israeli minister of military affairs Israel Katz announced that Israeli forces had taken control of Beaufort Castle. Hezbollah responded that the site had been “free of any military resistance” when Israeli troops entered, accusing Israel of occupying it for propaganda purposes.
Beaufort Castle is one of southern Lebanon’s most prominent strategic landmarks. Israeli forces withdrew from it in 2000.
The threat comes despite a so-called framework agreement signed between Lebanese authorities and Israel in Washington on June 26 under US mediation.
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said he would lead political opposition to the controversial agreement and work to block its ratification in parliament.
Berri also urged Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to withdraw the proposal after Salam thanked him for helping prevent unrest in Beirut on June 26 involving Hezbollah supporters.
Senior Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah also denounced the agreement, calling it a “humiliation,” a “disgrace,” and a surrender of Lebanese sovereignty.
Israeli troops continue to occupy a self-declared “security zone” extending about 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory.
Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued to bombard residential areas and civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
According to Lebanese health authorities, since March 2, 2026, Israel has killed at least 4,303 people, injured 12,202, and displaced more than 1.6 million in Lebanon.
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