Middle East crisis live: Israeli army captures strategic castle in Lebanon in deepest incursion into country in 26 years
Israeli forces captured Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, their deepest incursion into the country in 26 years, amid clashes with Hezbollah and fresh ceasefire strain.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
Israeli troops raised their flag over Beaufort Castle near Nabatiyeh after days of fighting and airstrikes in southern Lebanon. The move deepens Israel's operation beyond the Litani River despite a nominal ceasefire and comes days before US-hosted talks on June 2-3.
Israeli soldiers took over an old stone castle on a hill in southern Lebanon. The castle sits in a very important spot, like a lookout tower on top of a mountain.
The fighting is part of a bigger argument between Israel and Hezbollah. Even though there was supposed to be a pause in the fighting, the battles kept going and got closer to more towns.
It matters because when armies move into new places, the fighting can spread. It is a bit like two neighbors arguing, but instead of staying at the fence, they start moving into each other's yards.
Analysis
What happened
Israeli troops captured Beaufort Castle, a Crusader-era fortress on a mountain near Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon, after days of fighting and airstrikes in nearby villages. Footage showed the Israeli flag raised above the site, and Israel's defense minister said troops had returned to the summit and raised the flag there.
Why this site matters
Beaufort Castle, also known as Qalaat al-Shakif, overlooks wide stretches of south Lebanon, which makes it strategically valuable. The article notes that Israeli forces also held the castle during their 1982 invasion and used it as a base until withdrawing from Lebanon in 2000.
Wider escalation
The report says Israel has expanded operations in Lebanon and sent troops across the Litani River, which had previously functioned as a de facto boundary. Israel has designated the area between the Litani and Zahrani rivers a combat zone. Hezbollah said overnight that it struck Israeli troops and a Merkava tank near Bayada, while the Lebanese Health Ministry said the death toll in Lebanon since March had reached 3,371.
The Israeli army said one of its soldiers was killed the previous day by a Hezbollah explosive drone, bringing Israeli military deaths since early March to 25. The capture comes despite a nominal ceasefire in place since April and just days before talks were due at the US State Department on June 2 and 3.
The same live report also says Donald Trump claimed he had secured guarantees from Iran that it would not develop nuclear weapons, while Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the Israeli army to seize control of 70% of Gaza. Those developments sit alongside the Lebanon fighting as part of the wider regional crisis.
Key points
- Israeli troops captured Beaufort Castle near Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon.
- The article says this is Israel's deepest incursion into Lebanon in 26 years.
- The move came despite a nominal ceasefire that has been in place since April.
- Israel has expanded operations beyond the Litani River and designated a wider combat zone.
- The report says upcoming talks were due at the US State Department on June 2 and 3.
