Israel Crosses Litani River and Seizes Beaufort Fortress, Expanding Offensive 40 Kilometers into Lebanon
Updated
Updated · FRANCE 24 English · May 31
Israel Crosses Litani River and Seizes Beaufort Fortress, Expanding Offensive 40 Kilometers into Lebanon
25 articles · Updated · FRANCE 24 English · May 31
Israeli troops pushed beyond the Litani River and raised their flag over Beaufort fortress on Sunday, marking a deeper ground advance in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah.
A sweeping evacuation order covered areas south of the Zahrani River — about 40 kilometers from the Israeli border — as the military said a significant number of forces were operating beyond the Litani.
Benjamin Netanyahu called the capture a "dramatic shift," saying Israel was taking the initiative on multiple fronts, while the army said one soldier was killed Saturday in a Hezbollah drone strike.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Israel of a scorched-earth policy and collective punishment, renewing calls for a swift ceasefire.
The offensive widens despite an April 17 truce that was never implemented, with both Israel and Hezbollah continuing to accuse each other of violations.
Israel's flag flies over Beaufort Castle again, but can this advance achieve the lasting peace its previous 18-year occupation could not?
As peace talks occur in Washington, why is Israel's army raising flags over Lebanese castles and escalating its military campaign?
With Israeli forces advancing, does Hezbollah's narrative as Lebanon's 'sole defender' now make its disarmament politically impossible?