AMMAN — Lebanon’s ceasefire efforts faced a major setback on Monday after Israel expanded military operations in the south, prompting fresh diplomatic involvement from Washington and an emergency UN Security Council meeting.

 

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Israel of carrying out a “fierce Israeli aggression” after Israeli forces announced control of the strategic Beaufort Castle, known locally as Qalaat Al Shaqif.

 

“Lebanon is facing a fierce and condemned Israeli aggression,” Aoun said, pledgeding to work towards ending the suffering of Lebanese civilians, particularly in the south.

 

The latest escalation has further exposed the fragility of a ceasefire that entered into force on April 17 but has largely failed to halt hostilities.

 

Israeli forces seized Beaufort Castle in a move widely seen as signalling a deeper push into southern Lebanon and a new phase in Israel’s campaign against Hizbollah.

 

The fortress carries both military and symbolic significance. It overlooks large areas of southern Lebanon and was previously used by Israeli forces during their occupation of the area before withdrawing in 2000.

 

As fighting intensified, Washington launched a fresh diplomatic effort. A senior US official said Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks with both Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the past 48 hours.

 

The talks focused on a new ceasefire proposal. Under the initiative, Hizbollah would halt attacks on Israel as a first step, while Israel would refrain from expanding military operations in Beirut.

 

The proposal exposed deep divisions.

 

Washington wants Hizbollah to stop attacks first. Hizbollah insists Israel must halt its offensive before any ceasefire can hold.

 

The growing tensions prompted France to request an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. French President Emmanuel Macron said, “Nothing justifies the major escalation under way in south Lebanon” and called for an end to the fighting.

 

The war began on March 2 after Hizbollah launched attacks against Israel, drawing Lebanon deeper into the wider regional conflict.

 

According to Lebanese authorities, more than 3,412 people have been killed and over one million displaced since the war began.

 

The Israeli military said 25 soldiers have been killed in Lebanon during the same period.

 

Political analyst Amer Sabaileh said Israel’s return to the Lebanese front was expected.

 

“With the war against Iran and efforts to isolate the various fronts, Hizbollah has become the primary focus,” he said.

 

“The Israeli move appears carefully timed. Israel is taking advantage of US support and the relative silence surrounding what it may undertake against Hizbollah,” Sabaileh added.

 

“At the same time, Washington has opened a political track. This makes it natural for Israel to deepen its gains on the ground while diplomatic efforts continue.”

 

With military activity expanding and diplomatic efforts making little progress, Sabaileh noted that Lebanon is increasingly serving as a pivotal test case for international attempts to stop the region’s interconnected conflicts from evolving into a broader confrontation across the Middle East