The Israeli army has captured the strategic position of Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, in what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as a “decisive move” in its offensive against Hezbollah, according to the BBC and Reuters.
Netanyahu announced that he had ordered troops to advance deeper into Lebanon in the fight against Hezbollah, despite a ceasefire announced more than six weeks ago.
Israeli ground troops are advancing further into Lebanese territory, crossing the original demarcation line represented by the Litani River.
Britain, France and Germany criticized Israel's latest escalation of the conflict, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also warned locals in an even wider area of southern Lebanon to leave.
The Lebanese prime minister accused Israel of carrying out “collective punishment”.
Perched above the Litani Valley, Beaufort Castle has played a key role in controlling the surrounding region since the Crusaders built it some 900 years ago.
The Israeli army first captured it 44 years ago in what is known in Israel as the First Lebanon War.
The Americans proposed a “gradual de-escalation” plan
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks with both Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about diplomatic negotiations between Israel and Lebanon and proposed a plan to allow for a “gradual de-escalation”, a US official told Reuters.
The United States proposed that, as a first step, the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group cease all attacks on Israel, and in return Israel refrain from escalating the conflict in Beirut, the official said.
“This would create space for a gradual de-escalation and an effective cessation of hostilities,” the official said.
He added that Aoun tried to promote the proposal and get an agreement. However, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who said he “guarantees” Hezbollah's commitment to a ceasefire, put the onus on Israel to stop “shooting first”.
