Overview
- Israeli forces widened ground operations north of the Litani River and raised their flag on the Shqeif (Beaufort) castle as they pushed to control high ground used by Hezbollah, officials said.
- The army issued evacuation orders for villages south of Zahrani and warned residents of Beirut’s southern suburb to leave after orders to strike targets there, reflecting an intensification of strikes and troop movements.
- Washington has proposed a phased de‑escalation that would begin with Hezbollah stopping attacks in return for Israel limiting strikes on Beirut, but U.S. officials and Israeli leaders have expressed caution about guarantees.
- Lebanese officials, including Speaker Nabih Berri’s office, told U.S. mediators that Hezbollah could observe a comprehensive ceasefire, a claim U.S. sources call uncertain while on‑the‑ground combat continues.
- France prompted an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting and other powers warned of regional spillover as the campaign deepens a humanitarian crisis that has caused thousands of deaths and mass displacement in southern Lebanon.