Israeli Forces Seize Beaufort Ridge in Southern Lebanon; Netanyahu Says Operations Will Continue

Israeli forces announced early Sunday that they had taken control of the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military said regular troops crossed the Litani River for the first time since its withdrawal from the area in 2000. The move marked an expansion of operations that reached beyond southern Lebanon last week.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces will continue operating in southern Lebanon as planned. According to source reports, he told President Donald Trump that Israeli forces will maintain their operations. Netanyahu stated that Hezbollah headquarters in the Dahieh neighborhood of Beirut will not remain untouched while the group attacks northern Israeli communities.

Netanyahu added that Hezbollah is on the run and will not be permitted to attack Israeli cities while its Beirut headquarters remains intact. The statements were posted approximately two hours after Trump announced on Truth Social that he had conversations with both Netanyahu and Hezbollah through intermediaries.

Trump stated that both sides had pledged not to attack the other if their opponent did not.

A ceasefire has been in place in Lebanon since last month, brokered between representatives from Israel and the Lebanese government. Hezbollah, which was not party to the negotiations, said it would disregard the ceasefire from the outset. Netanyahu’s office and Israeli statements have described the operations as aimed at eliminating Hezbollah strongholds and restoring security for residents in northern Israel.

No timeline for ending the operations was provided. The Israeli military has held back from excessive attacks outside southern Lebanon.