Lebanese president says Israeli detonations pose 'direct threat' to Israel deal

Joseph Aoun, the Lebanese president, said on Friday that Israeli army detonations near the Unesco-listed Beaufort castle in southern Lebanon overnight were a "direct threat" to a recent framework deal agreed with Israel.

Aoun said the explosions "are an extremely dangerous escalation", according to a statement from his office, adding that they "represent a direct threat to the process which was launched as part of the framework agreement".

He said that their timing, ahead of another round of talks with Israel in Rome next week, "sends negative messages".