The Israeli military announced on May 31 that ground forces had crossed the Litani River — roughly 30 kilometers north of the border — and seized the medieval Beaufort Castle, marking the deepest Israeli incursion into Lebanese territory in 26 years [3][8][26]. The operation, described by the military as aimed at "destroying terrorist infrastructure and eliminating militants," is expanding to additional zones in southern Lebanon [2][5]. A 21-year-old Israeli soldier, Michael Tyukin of the Givati Brigade's reconnaissance unit, was killed during combat, and four others were lightly wounded [12].

Israel's advance follows the failure of military talks in Washington and a ceasefire that had been in effect since early April [27][30]. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the crossing, stating that forces were "hitting Hezbollah head on" across the front, including the Bekaa Valley and as far as the southern suburbs of Beirut [4][5][8]. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz framed the capture of Beaufort Castle in terms linked to the 1982 Lebanon War: "Forty-four years after the heroic Battle of Beaufort … our troops have returned to the summit of Beaufort and once again raised the Israeli flag there" [3][5][7]. Israeli military Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation orders for all residents south of the Zahrani River, warning that "tout bâtiment utilisé par le Hezbollah à des fins militaires peut devenir une cible" (any building used by Hezbollah for military purposes can become a target) [7].

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, in a televised address, accused Israel of "pursuing a scorched-earth policy and collective punishment" by systematically destroying towns and forcing inhabitants into exile [4][11]. He described the offensive as an "escalade dangereuse et sans précédent" (dangerous and unprecedented escalation) and argued that such a policy "will not ensure Israel's security" [7][19]. Salam defended his government's engagement in US-brokered negotiations as "the most appropriate option to protect Lebanon and the Lebanese people under these circumstances" and called for an immediate ceasefire [13][11].

Hezbollah stated it was confronting Israeli forces around the outskirts of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, Yohmor al-Shaqif, and Dibbine, and that Israeli troops "had not yet succeeded in taking control of the towns" [4][11]. Simultaneously, the group launched rocket and drone salvos at northern Israeli communities; video showed Israelis fleeing Nahariya beach after rockets landed offshore — the first such attack on the city in three weeks [15]. The Israeli military reported more than 20 rockets and drones launched from Lebanon on a single day [11]. The Jerusalem Post reported that daily Hezbollah fire on Kiryat Shmona, Nahariya, and Karmiel has persisted for nearly three years, affecting hundreds of thousands of residents [25].

The Lebanese state's capacity to respond is limited. Geopolitical analyst Joe Macaron said the Lebanese army is "overly stretched" as Israeli troops expand their occupation north of the Litani River and appear poised to encircle the city of Nabatieh [9]. A Lebanese military source confirmed that Israeli forces had advanced into villages north of the Litani and reached the outskirts of Nabatieh [2]. Two Lebanese soldiers were seriously injured after an Israeli drone struck their vehicle in Aaiba [10].

The humanitarian toll is documented across multiple agencies. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed more than 3,370 people [2][4]. The UNHCR reported nearly 700,000 people displaced in a single week across Lebanon [28]. The ICRC detailed ongoing assistance to displaced populations, hospital support, and water-system repairs in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa [23]. Médecins Sans Frontières condemned the killing of two paramedics by an Israeli drone strike in Nabatiyeh on May 12, citing attacks on medical personnel as part of a pattern [24]. Anadolu Agency reported strikes near the Nabih Berri Governmental University Hospital and on multiple towns including Zibdine, Burj al-Shamali, and al-Lubiyah [10]. Additional strikes on Deir ez-Zahrani at dawn killed several people, with rescue workers searching for victims under rubble [6].

At the United Nations, Russia and China demanded Israel's immediate withdrawal and full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701. Russia's UN envoy Василий Небензя condemned the attack on Lebanon [21], while China's ambassador 傅聪 called for respect for Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity [22]. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urged ceasefire implementation during a call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reportedly pledged support for that goal [8].

Iran linked the Israeli operation directly to its own ceasefire with Washington. Deutsche Welle Persian reported that Tehran threatened to end the Iran-US ceasefire if Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue [20]. Mojtaba Khamenei, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, accused US President Donald Trump of "betraying diplomacy for the third time" through a continued naval blockade and excessive demands [3]. Trump stated that "Iran has agreed to no nuclear weapons" [3], while Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the United States was "more than capable" of resuming war with Iran [3]. Senior US defense official Elbridge Colby described ongoing Washington talks as productive (rendered in German sources as 'produktive') [8].

The Yonhap News Agency reported that the stated Israeli military objective is intelligence-based targeted raids against Hezbollah military infrastructure and pushing drone and rocket capabilities further from the border [29]. The next round of US-brokered talks between Israeli and Lebanese delegations has not been publicly scheduled [13].