Israeli military forces have seized the historic Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, a move that signals a significant expansion of the ground offensive against Hezbollah. The capture of the 900-year-old fortress, which overlooks the Litani River, follows a series of new evacuation orders issued by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for all territories south of the Zahrani River.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized the operation as a "dramatic stage and dramatic change" in the country's military policy. An IDF spokesman confirmed that a "significant number" of ground soldiers are involved in the operation, which is currently expanding into additional areas beyond the original demarcation line of the Litani River.
The IDF’s current push into Lebanon represents the deepest incursion in over 25 years, according to Al Jazeera. By moving beyond the Litani, Israeli forces now occupy approximately 2,000 square kilometers, or nearly one-fifth of Lebanese territory. Military operations have reached the outskirts of Nabatieh, a known Hezbollah stronghold, with troops reportedly active in the towns of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah and Choukine.
As the military footprint grows, the humanitarian toll has intensified. On Sunday, Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that 13 hospital staff were injured during an airstrike near the Hiram hospital in Tyre. Al Jazeera reported that additional strikes have devastated residential neighborhoods in Tyre, which had been largely emptied following forced displacement orders issued by the Israeli military.
International reaction has been swift, particularly from France, which has requested a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the escalation. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned the operations in an interview with BFMTV, labeling the situation a "major mistake for Israel." Barrot stated, "Nothing can justify the prolongation of [Israel's] military operations in Lebanon and its increasingly deep occupation of Lebanese territory."
Despite ongoing US-mediated talks aimed at a permanent ceasefire and the disarmament of Hezbollah, the military situation remains volatile. Al Jazeera noted that the conflict has become increasingly entwined with broader regional tensions, as Iranian officials have signaled that an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon is a prerequisite for any meaningful progress in negotiations between Tehran and Washington. The IDF continues to warn civilians that anyone present near Hezbollah elements, facilities, or means of combat endangers their own life.
