Israeli Military Captures Strategic Lebanese Castle in Deepest Incursion in 26 Years

BEIRUT (CNA) - The Israeli military announced today that it has captured a strategic high ground in southern Lebanon, home to a Crusader-era castle. This is the deepest incursion by the Israeli military into Lebanon in over a quarter-century. According to the Associated Press, Israel captured Beaufort Castle near Nabatiyeh following days of airstrikes and intense fighting with the Shiite militia Hezbollah in nearby villages. This achievement marks a significant gain for Israel in its new round of war with Hezbollah. Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel on March 2nd in response to U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, triggering a new wave of conflict. Despite a nominal ceasefire in place since April 17th, Israeli operations have not ceased. Tensions have flared again on the eve of new direct talks between Lebanon and Israel scheduled for June 2nd in Washington. Nabih Berri, the Lebanese Parliament Speaker and a key ally of Hezbollah, stated he could guarantee the organization would fulfill the ceasefire "fully, completely, and immediately," but asked, "Who can force Israel to stop its aggression?" French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss Israel's military actions in Lebanon. He told France's BFM TV that these actions are "unacceptable." He said, "There is no reason to justify Israel's ongoing military operations in Lebanon and its increasingly deep occupation." Diplomats revealed that under current plans, the Security Council could meet as early as tomorrow afternoon, though no official announcement has been made. Avichay Adraee, the Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, posted photos on X showing Israeli soldiers walking outside the castle; Defense Minister Israel Katz noted on X that they had raised the Israeli flag over the castle. The Israeli military occupied the castle in 1982 and did not withdraw from Lebanon until 2000. Katz said at a ceremony today commemorating soldiers who died during the previous occupation of southern Lebanon: "26 years after withdrawing from the security zone in Lebanon, the Israeli flag is once again flying on the mountain peak overlooking the towns of Galilee."