This story originally appeared in the JC Israel Briefing. You can sign up to receive the briefing daily here.
The UN Security Council is to hold an emergency meeting over the expansion of Israel’s operation in Lebanon, after it pushed beyond the Litani River and captured a medieval stronghold in a strategically significant position.
Israeli forces seized Beaufort Castle near the city of Nabatieh as part of the army’s efforts to “eliminate the direct threat to communities in the Galilee Panhandle, including Metula,” the IDF said. It is Israel's deepest incursion into Lebanon in 26 years.
The meeting has reportedly been requested by France in response to the action taken by Israel.
In an interview with French station BFMTV, the country’s foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, said: “Nothing can justify the prolongation of (Israel's) military operations in Lebanon and its increasingly deep occupation of Lebanese territory."
Troops have been advancing deeper into Lebanon for several days after crossing the river, the operation’s former demarcation line.
The military said the operation was one of dozens carried out in recent weeks as part of its ongoing campaign against the Iranian terrorist proxy.
“Forty-four years after the heroic Battle of Beaufort – and on the memorial day for the fallen of the First Lebanon War, including the Golani soldiers who fell in the battle for Beaufort – IDF soldiers, led by the Golani Brigade, returned to the summit of Beaufort and once again raised the Israeli flag and the Golani Brigade flag atop it,” Defence Minister Israel Katz stated on X.
“The IDF expanded its manoeuvre in Lebanon, crossed the Litani River and captured the Beaufort Ridge – one of the most strategically important positions for defending the communities of the Galilee and safeguarding the security of our forces,” he tweeted.
“This is a clear message to our enemies: Whoever threatens the citizens of Israel will lose their strategic assets one after another,” the defence minister added.
Hezbollah renewed its rocket and drone attacks on Israel on March 2, following the targeted killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during the opening stages of “Operation Roaring Lion” on February 28.
This story originally appeared in the JC Israel Briefing. You can sign up to receive the briefing daily here.
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