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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on the 31st (local time) that the Israeli military is expanding ground operations in southern Lebanon.
In a statement, Netanyahu said, \”I have ordered the military to expand ground operations inside Lebanon,\” and stressed the goal is to strengthen and extend control over areas once held by Hezbollah. Reuters reported that Israeli forces are advancing north past the Litani River toward the Zaharani River, roughly 10 km (about 6.2 miles) away.
The French Foreign Ministry said it has requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council for June 1, citing rising military tensions inside Lebanon.
The Israeli military recently announced it had seized the strategic Beaufort Castle and nearby ridgelines in southern Lebanon. Officials said the operation is intended to consolidate control of that sector and the al-Sallouqi area, and to degrade Hezbollah’s Iran-backed military infrastructure.
Israel’s capture of Beaufort Castle is the first time it has held the site since its withdrawal from Lebanon in May 2000 — 26 years ago. Israeli Defense Minister Katz said the government intends to maintain the area as a security zone.
Meanwhile, some Israeli politicians have urged more forceful action. Naftali Bennett, a political rival of Netanyahu, called for broad strikes that would include areas around Beirut.
This round of fighting began on March 2, when Hezbollah launched missiles and drones at northern Israel, saying the strikes were in support of Iran. According to the Lebanese government, more than 1.2 million people have been displaced by Israeli airstrikes and evacuation orders, and at least 3,370 people have been killed. Israeli authorities report that, over the same period, 24 Israeli soldiers and four civilians have been killed.
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