Middle east live: Israel says ground forces 'expanding' in Lebanon
Israel said its ground forces are expanding operations in Lebanon as troops push deeper south and seize a strategic hilltop castle.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
France 24’s live update says Israeli forces are widening their ground offensive in southern Lebanon, crossing the Litani River and capturing Beaufort Castle near Nabatiyeh. The live blog also tracks parallel diplomacy around Iran, where Trump says Tehran has agreed not to build nuclear weapons.
Israel says its soldiers are moving into more places in southern Lebanon. The story says they even took over a hill with an old castle on it, which is a big step in the fighting.
Think of it like two neighbors arguing, and one keeps walking farther into the other’s yard to grab a better spot. That makes the fight bigger and more dangerous.
The article also says leaders are talking about the wider war with Iran at the same time. That matters because battles in one place can change what happens in a much bigger region.
Analysis
What changed
France 24 reports that Israel said on Sunday its ground forces were “expanding to additional areas” in Lebanon as part of wider operations aimed at strengthening its position in the south. The military said a significant number of ground soldiers had begun offensive operations and crossed the Litani River.
On the ground
The live blog says Israeli troops also captured Beaufort Castle, a strategic mountain topped with a Crusader-built castle near Nabatiyeh. France 24 describes that advance as Israel’s deepest incursion into Lebanon in more than a quarter century. The report says the capture followed days of heavy fighting and airstrikes in nearby villages, where Israeli troops fought Hezbollah members in rugged terrain. The article notes that Israeli forces had held the castle for 18 years before withdrawing from Lebanon in 2000.
Wider regional picture
The live coverage places the Lebanon fighting alongside diplomacy around the wider Middle East war. France 24 says Donald Trump claimed he had secured guarantees from Iran that it would not develop nuclear weapons, while US media reported he had sent back a tougher peace proposal. The article says any changes could delay a formal agreement and an opening of the Strait of Hormuz maritime route.
The live blog also quotes Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemning what he called a dangerous Israeli escalation and urging an immediate ceasefire. It adds that an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader accused Trump of betraying diplomacy, and that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the US remains capable of resuming the war with Iran.
Key points
- Israel said its ground forces are expanding operations into additional areas in Lebanon.
- The military said troops crossed the Litani River as part of the offensive.
- Israeli forces captured Beaufort Castle near Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon.
- France 24 says the advance is Israel’s deepest incursion into Lebanon in more than 25 years.
- The live blog also tracks diplomacy and conflict developments involving Iran and the wider Middle East war.
