Netanyahu orders Israeli troops to advance further into Lebanon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered troops to advance deeper into Lebanon, escalating the conflict with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group. This directive comes despite a ceasefire that has been in place for over six weeks, marking a significant increase in hostilities.

The fighting in Lebanon represents the broadest spillover of the ongoing conflict, having displaced more than 1.2 million Lebanese since March 2. Hezbollah began firing rockets and drones into Israel on that date, prompting Israeli strikes and evacuation orders. The Lebanese government reports over 3,370 deaths, while Israel states 24 soldiers and four civilians have been killed during the same period. Tens of thousands of Israelis in the country's north have also been displaced by Hezbollah's cross-border attacks.

In the latest military actions, Israeli troops seized the ancient Beaufort Castle and a strategic ridge in southern Lebanon. This advance occurred a day after one of the most intense periods of Hezbollah rocket fire toward northern Israel since the April ceasefire, leading to school closures and movement restrictions. The Israeli military, which already controlled territory up to the Litani River, is now pushing towards the Zaharani River, approximately 10 kilometers further north, with Netanyahu aiming to "deepen and expand our grip on the places that were under Hezbollah’s control."

Amidst the escalating violence, France has requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council. The conflict has seen continued exchanges of fire, with Hezbollah employing kamikaze drones that pose a challenge to air defenses and have resulted in Israeli troop casualties. Overnight airstrikes on Saturday hit the southern Lebanese village of Deir El Zahrani, killing eight people, according to Lebanon's state news agency.

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Deepen and expand our grip on the places that were under Hezbollah’s control.