Israeli forces seize Beaufort Castle in major Lebanon offensive

The Israeli military said it had launched a "large-scale operation" in southern Lebanon, capturing the strategic Beaufort Castle and crossing the Litani River as it expanded its offensive against Hezbollah across multiple fronts.

The military campaign marks a significant escalation in fighting, with Israeli forces operating not only in southern Lebanon but also targeting areas including Beirut and the Bekaa Valley, according to Israeli officials, reports Al Jazeera.

Israeli forces led by the Golani Brigade took control of Beaufort Castle, a Crusader-era fortress overlooking the Litani River. Images broadcast by the Israeli Broadcasting Corp showed "Israel's flag and the banner of the Golani Brigade flying above Beaufort Castle".

Defence Minister Israel Katz described the capture as a major military achievement, saying the fortress is "one of the most important strategic points for the defence of the Galilee communities and maintaining the security of our forces".

Katz said the operation had previously been under an "information blackout" and added that fighting was continuing to "weaken Hezbollah and secure Israel's northern border".

The Israeli military said its forces "have crossed the Litani [River] and expanded their attacks against Hezbollah to north of the river", extending operations beyond the immediate border region.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli troops were operating across the Lebanese front, including in "Beirut and the Bekaa Valley". The military also said the offensive would continue to expand to "additional areas".

The operation has been accompanied by air strikes and shelling in several districts, including Nabatieh and Marjayoun.

In the town of Deir ez-Zahrani, air strikes hit residential buildings while residents were asleep, according to reports from Lebanon's National News Agency. The agency said "rescue workers were at the scene trying to recover victims" and that "a number of people remain trapped under the rubble".

The Israeli military also issued evacuation instructions for residents south of the Zahrani River, urging them to leave their homes immediately. The warning stated that "any movement southward may put your lives at risk".

Lebanese authorities had not publicly commented on Israel's claim that it had captured Beaufort Castle as of the latest reports.