Prime Minister Netanyahu orders Israel to deepen its invasion of Lebanon to attack Hezbollah
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered troops to advance further into Lebanon in the fight against Hezbollah, despite an outstanding ceasefire.
Despite the two countries agreeing to a ceasefire more than a month ago, Israeli forces are advancing further into Lebanon after capturing a 900-year-old fortress in the area.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on May 31 that he had ordered Israeli forces to “expand their invasion of Lebanon” after capturing the historic Beaufort Castle. Prime Minister Netanyahu described the military action as a “drastic change” in policy.
Israel’s offensive in Lebanon began when the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israeli territory following a US-Israeli-led attack on Iran in February.
Beaufort Castle was captured
Israeli forces captured Beaufort Castle, a historic fortress about nine miles from the Israel-Lebanon border, on May 30, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
“Our forces have crossed the Litani River. They have occupied the dominant terrain. They have occupied the Beaufort Ridge. And my instructions now are to deepen and expand control of the places that were under Hezbollah’s control,” Netanyahu said in a video address posted on X.
Israel took control of the site during the First Lebanon War in 1982 and continued to occupy it for nearly 20 years. However, as the Israeli death toll rose and public support for its occupation of southern Lebanon declined, Israel withdrew its troops after 18 years.
In his speech, Prime Minister Netanyahu called the capture of Beaufort Castle 44 years ago “a symbol of the heroic fight of our fighters” but also “a symbol of the deep divisions between us.”
But this latest military action represents something new.
“The capture of Beaufort is a dramatic step and a dramatic change in the policies we lead,” Netanyahu said in a video address. “We have broken through the wall of fear. We have taken the initiative and are active on all fronts, including Syria, Gaza and Lebanon. We have set up safe zones across our borders to protect our communities.”
Attackers break through the Litani River
Prime Minister Netanyahu also announced that Israeli forces had breached the Litani River, a 90-mile-long waterway that covers about 20% of Lebanon’s total area.
On Sunday, Israeli forces issued an evacuation order for areas within 45 miles north of the Israel-Lebanon border, including areas north of the Litani River and south of the Zahrani River, according to Lebanese media outlet Naharnet.
Hezbollah has operated along the southern reaches of the Litani River for decades, making it a key target in Israel’s ongoing fight against the insurgency.
Israel’s latest military offensive marks the first time in 20 years that it has crossed the southern Litani River area, which has historically served as a border.
A ceasefire in name only
Israel’s capture of Beaufort Castle and its aim to expand its military presence across Lebanon came amid an ostensible cease-fire agreement between the two countries.
In mid-April, Israel and Lebanon initially agreed to a 10-day ceasefire. About a week later, the temporary ceasefire was extended for three weeks. By mid-May, it was extended again, this time to 45 days.
Officially, it remains in effect. Although there have been violations by both Hezbollah and Israel, the ceasefire is largely in name only.
Questions surrounding the ceasefire’s implementation have remained lingering since its inception and continue to cloud negotiations.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted he will not withdraw troops from southern Lebanon. Hezbollah, meanwhile, said any deal must not allow Israeli soldiers to remain on Lebanese territory.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun is “leading an intensive effort” with the US president, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to “reach a ceasefire or detente and halt Israeli advances,” Lebanese media outlet Naharnet reported.
Representatives from Lebanon and Israel are scheduled to meet in Washington on June 2.
Aoun has not yet commented publicly on Israel’s expansion into southern Lebanon.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on May 30 that Israel was pursuing a “scorched-earth policy” based on “collective punishment” in the south, as the Israeli military issued widespread evacuation orders across the region, according to the Naharnet news agency.
Increasing death toll and displacement
According to UNICEF, 1.1 million Lebanese, about 20% of the population, were forced to flee within the first month of Israel’s war against Hezbollah. Lebanon’s Ministry of Health reports that more than 3,200 people have been killed and nearly 10,000 injured in the past three months.
According to Reuters, 24 Israeli soldiers and four civilians were killed in the same period.
Contributed by: Reuters.
Drew Pittock covers trending news from around the country for USA TODAY. He can be reached at DPittock@usatodayco.com.
