Israel Seizes Beaufort Castle, Expands Lebanon Ground Operations

Israel has issued fresh evacuation orders for large areas of southern Lebanon while its troops seized the historic Beaufort Castle and advanced beyond the Litani River for the first time since 2006. The moves mark a significant escalation in the campaign against Hezbollah even as a broader ceasefire with Iran remains in place.

The Israeli military instructed all residents south of the Zahrani River to move north immediately, warning that anyone remaining in the zone risks being killed. This is the latest in more than ten such orders issued in the past day alone. The affected territory lies roughly 40 kilometers from the border and includes zones around Nabatieh, one of Lebanon's largest southern cities. Israeli Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated on social media that presence near Hezbollah fighters or facilities endangers lives and that buildings used by the group could be targeted.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the capture of Beaufort Castle and its surrounding ridge as a key tactical gain. The twelfth-century fortress sits atop a hill that offers commanding views across southern Lebanon and into northern Israel. Katz noted that the site had previously served as an Israeli base during the earlier occupation that ended in 2000. He said the operation, conducted under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, crossed the Litani River and secured one of the most important points for protecting communities in the Galilee.

One Israeli soldier was killed during the fighting around the ridge and the nearby Wadi al-Saluki area, according to the military. Israeli officials said the goal was to remove Hezbollah infrastructure that had allowed hundreds of projectiles to be fired toward Israeli civilians and troops. Katz claimed the broader campaign has eliminated thousands of fighters and taken control of hundreds of square kilometers.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the ground operations as a scorched-earth policy. France has called for an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting to address the developments. No immediate statement came from Hezbollah.

The castle seizure and river crossing deepen Israel's footprint in Lebanon months after Hezbollah joined the wider regional conflict by launching rockets and drones at Israel. The latest advance comes after one of the heaviest days of Hezbollah fire toward northern Israel since an April ceasefire, prompting school closures in affected Israeli areas. Israeli forces have also begun operating near Nabatieh, described by the military as a major Hezbollah stronghold.

The displacement orders affect civilians across a wide stretch of territory north of the Litani. Previous Israeli operations in Lebanon have shown that such warnings often precede intense bombardment and prolonged access restrictions. Residents have little time to gather belongings or arrange alternative shelter, and many communities lack the resources to relocate large numbers of people quickly. The pattern echoes earlier phases of the conflict when similar instructions led to widespread internal displacement and damage to civilian infrastructure.

Strategically, control of Beaufort Ridge gives Israeli troops an elevated position from which to monitor and strike launch sites. Israeli statements frame the moves as necessary to prevent future attacks on Galilee communities. At the same time, the operations push deeper into Lebanese territory than at any point since the 2006 war and occur against the backdrop of an active though fragile ceasefire elsewhere in the region. The combination of rapid territorial gains and sweeping civilian evacuation orders raises questions about the scope and duration of the current campaign.