Israeli military forces seized the 12th-century Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon this weekend, marking the deepest incursion into the country in decades. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the operation as a "dramatic shift" in the ongoing campaign against Hezbollah, even as Washington attempted to mediate a de-escalation roadmap.
According to Al Jazeera and the BBC, the U.S. proposal hinges on Hezbollah halting attacks on Israel in exchange for an Israeli promise to refrain from targeting Beirut’s southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh. However, the proposal appears to be failing; Netanyahu ordered strikes on Dahiyeh on Monday, citing the need to "crush Hezbollah's power," according to the BBC.
Escalating regional conflict
The border violence is now mirrored by a sharp increase in direct hostilities between the United States and Iran. France24 reported that Kuwaiti air defenses intercepted missiles and drones on Monday following a weekend of strikes where both the U.S. and Iran targeted each other's military sites. Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohamad Baqer Qalibaf, accused the U.S. of violating an April 8 ceasefire by maintaining a naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz and failing to restrain Israel’s actions in Lebanon. "The naval blockade and the escalation of war crimes in the Lebanon by the genocidal Zionist regime are clear proof of the breach of the ceasefire by the United States," Qalibaf posted on X, as cited by Cooperativa.
Financial markets reacted sharply to the breakdown of diplomatic efforts. La Tercera reported that Brent crude surged 3.3% to $94.10 per barrel, while WTI surpassed the $90 threshold as investors priced in the risk to global transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the volatility, U.S. President Donald Trump attempted to project confidence on social media, writing on Truth Social that Iran "really wants to make a deal" and that the situation would resolve itself.
The humanitarian toll continues to climb. The Lebanese health ministry reports that at least 3,371 people have been killed since the conflict began on March 2, when Hezbollah responded to an Israeli strike that killed Iran’s supreme leader. Israel reports 24 soldiers and four civilians killed in the same period, according to the BBC. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized that the current campaign remains active, stating, "Our heroic soldiers have captured Beaufort once again and will remain there as part of the security zone in Lebanon," as reported by Al Jazeera.
