Israel’s military has seized the 900-year-old Beaufort Castle and a strategic ridge in southern Lebanon, marking its deepest incursion into Lebanese territory since the 2006 war, according to senior Israeli and Lebanese officials. The operation, launched in response to escalating cross-border attacks, follows a week of intensified airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions and infrastructure along the Blue Line, the de facto border established by the UN after Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000.
The capture of Beaufort—long a symbol of Crusader-era resistance and later a key stronghold during Israel’s 1982 invasion—comes as Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) have expanded their ground operations beyond the traditional “security zone” into areas previously considered off-limits under the 2006 ceasefire agreement. Lebanese military sources confirmed the loss of the ridge, known as the “Golan Heights of Lebanon” due to its commanding view of the Beit Jann valley and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, though they refused to specify troop movements or casualties. The IDF, in a statement released late Thursday, described the operation as “precise and limited,” aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s “terror infrastructure” in the region.
Separately, the White House has disclosed that U.S. President Donald Trump has personally intervened in the Iran negotiations, sending back a revised peace proposal to Tehran that includes stricter conditions on missile development and regional proxies. A senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the new draft—submitted to Iranian negotiators via backchannel diplomacy—demands explicit guarantees that Iran will halt arms transfers to Hezbollah and other militant groups in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. The official noted that the proposal also tightens language on Iran’s ballistic missile program, requiring verifiable dismantling of production facilities rather than the previous commitment to “not test” new systems.
The timing of the Israeli offensive and the U.S. Diplomatic push underscores deepening tensions in the region. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has escalated rocket fire into northern Israel in response to what it calls Israeli “provocations,” including a July 27 airstrike that killed seven militants near the Syrian border. The Lebanese government, already strained by economic collapse and political paralysis, has condemned the Israeli actions as a violation of sovereignty but has avoided direct confrontation, citing its reliance on Hezbollah’s deterrent capabilities. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has not commented on the ground operations, though a spokesperson acknowledged “increased volatility” along the border.
In Washington, the revised proposal reflects Trump’s administration’s hardening stance on Iran, which has sought to reopen indirect talks after the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal under his predecessor. The new conditions align with Israel’s long-standing demands, including a prohibition on Iranian military presence in Syria, and Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a closed-door meeting with U.S. Officials earlier this week, reportedly urged the Trump team to link any Iran deal to Hezbollah’s disarmament—a position that Iranian officials have dismissed as non-negotiable. The revised proposal does not address Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities, a point of contention that has stalled previous negotiations.
On the ground in Lebanon, the fall of Beaufort Castle has triggered a wave of condemnation from regional actors. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government, which has allowed Iranian-backed militias to operate near the Lebanese border, described the Israeli actions as an “act of aggression” in a statement carried by state media. Turkey’s foreign ministry, while avoiding direct criticism of Israel, warned of “unintended escalation” that could destabilize the already fragile ceasefire in northwestern Syria. Meanwhile, in Beirut, pro-Hezbollah lawmakers have called for an emergency session of parliament to address the “Israeli occupation,” though no concrete measures are expected given the government’s inability to function.
The IDF’s advance into southern Lebanon coincides with reports that Hezbollah has redeployed some of its elite Radwan Force units from Syria to the Lebanese border, a move intended to bolster its defensive posture. Analysts warn that the capture of Beaufort could embolden Hezbollah to retaliate with larger-scale attacks, potentially drawing Israel into a broader conflict. The U.S. Central Command has reportedly increased surveillance flights over the eastern Mediterranean, though Pentagon officials have not confirmed any plans to deploy additional assets to the region.
The Trump administration’s revised proposal to Iran remains under review by Tehran’s Supreme National Security Council, which includes hardline figures who have previously rejected U.S. Demands as “humiliating.” A senior Iranian diplomat, speaking to Reuters on Friday, stated that any discussion of regional proxies was “beyond the scope” of nuclear negotiations, a position that suggests further deadlock. The diplomat added that Iran would only engage with the U.S. On a “technical level” to discuss the nuclear file, effectively sidelining broader security concerns.
The Israeli military’s operations in Lebanon are expected to continue in the coming days, with reports indicating that additional targets—including Hezbollah’s communications hubs and weapons storage sites—are under consideration. The IDF has not ruled out further ground incursions, though it faces logistical challenges in sustaining operations deep inside Lebanon without provoking a wider regional response. Meanwhile, the White House has not set a deadline for Iran’s response to the revised proposal, signaling that the administration is prepared for prolonged negotiations—or their collapse.
