THE Israeli military has captured the strategic site of Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, in what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as a “decisive shift” in its offensive against Hezbollah.
It comes as ground troops move ever deeper into Lebanese territory beyond their original demarcation line of the Litani river.
The UK, France and Germany criticised Israel’s latest escalation, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) warned more residents to evacuate a larger swathe of southern Lebanon.
Lebanon’s prime minister has accused Israel of carrying out “collective punishment”.
The latest evacuation warning is the second time in recent days that Israel has told residents to leave the entire south of Lebanon below the Zahrani river.
“Anyone present near Hezbollah elements, facilities or means of combat endangers their life,” an IDF spokesman said.
The spokesman said a “significant number of IDF ground soldiers” were involved in the operation, which was “currently expanding to additional areas”.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper joined European allies on Sunday in calling for Israel and Hezbollah to stop the escalating conflict.
“Israel’s military escalation in Lebanon has killed and displaced civilians, destroyed infrastructure, and eroded space for diplomacy,” Cooper wrote on X. “It must end.”
Hezbollah “must end attacks on Israel and disarm,” she added.
In Lebanon, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam made a televised address in which he accused Israel of a “scorched-earth policy and collective punishment” in the south of the country.
France, which has historical ties with Lebanon, has requested a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the Israeli military operations.
President Emmanuel Macron said on X “it is urgent that the weapons fall silent – all of them, and for good”.
“Nothing justifies the major escalation currently under way in southern Lebanon,” he added.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told French network BFMTV the situation was a “major mistake for Israel”.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the Israeli army’s advance further into southern Lebanon was a “cause for serious concern”.