Castle Strikes Deepen Border Tensions

Adloun-Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling struck areas near the historic Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon on Saturday as fighting intensified around villages near Nabatieh and Israel issued evacuation warnings for more than a dozen communities.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported strikes near the Crusader-era fortress, while the Lebanese army said a drone strike wounded two soldiers near Nabatieh. Israeli forces have advanced in several areas south of the Litani River despite an April ceasefire.

Hezbollah said it fired rockets toward Kiryat Shmona and Safed in northern Israel in response to Israeli attacks. Lebanese officials said they would step up diplomatic efforts to halt Israeli military operations and evacuations in southern Lebanon.

The latest escalation comes a day after Lebanese and Israeli military officials held direct talks in Washington.