Lebanon, Israel continues its attack south of Beirut. Trump-Netanyahu phone call underway

Benjamin Netanyahu ordered to hit the southern suburbs of Beirutafter the killing of an IDF soldier and the wounding of three others near Beaufort Castle. “In light of repeated violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon by Hezbollah and attacks against our cities and our citizens, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Minister of Defense Israel Katz ordered the Israel Defense Forces to strike terrorist targets” in Beirut’s southern suburbs, an official statement said.

For his part, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun declared that his country is facing “cowardly and reprehensible Israeli aggression”, after Israel intensified its offensive against Hezbollah. Aoun in a post on

The UN Security Council convened in emergency

Il United Nations Security Council will meet today in one emergency session to discuss the expansion of the Israeli offensive into Lebanon. The meeting, formally requested by Francefollows the taking of control by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) of the medieval Beaufort Castle, an iconic fortress fought over by 900 years which represents the deepest incursion into Lebanese territory of recent times 26 years old.

Trump-Netanyahu phone call

A phone call is underway between the American president, Donald Trump, and the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. This was reported by various media in the region. The Trump administration “at least for now” he did not give his green light to Israel to extend military operations in Lebanon. This was reported by an informed Israeli source to the Channel 12 broadcaster. The decision on the nature of the operation in Beirut is being taken in coordination with Washingtonthe source reports, “Americans are proving to be more open”, “but there is no approval yet final, at least for now.”
Israel made requests to the Americans to allow the extension of operations in Beirut with airstrikes and Benjamin Netanyahu called yesterday a small meeting on security, the second in a single day, to discuss the possibility that Israel will move on from a model of territorial conquest in Lebanon to an air operation in Beirut. The previous day, Netanyahu had spoken to US Secretary of State Rubio and tried to convince senior US officialsadministration and President Donald Trump on the extension of the operation to Lebanon.

International reactions

The French president Emmanuel Macron condemned the operation, stating that “nothing justifies the serious escalation underway in southern Lebanon” and calling for immediate action cessation of hostilities. In contrast, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to intensify military maneuvers, describing the conquest of the fortress as a “fundamental turning point” and a “decisive turning point” in the campaign against Hezbollah.

Netanyahu’s statements

In a video statement released after the placement of the Israeli flag on the castle – already used as a base by the IDF during the twenty-year occupation that ended in 2000 – Netanyahu declared: “We have returned united, determined and stronger than ever”. The prime minister then added: “Now my order is to consolidate and expand our control in the places that were under the control of Hezbollah. The conquest of Beaufort represents a fundamental stage and a radical change in the policy we are following.”

The position of Lebanon

On the opposite side, the Lebanese president Joseph Aoun reported via the X platform that the country is facing a “ferocious and condemnable Israeli aggression“, pledging to “work to put an end to the suffering of the Lebanese people in general and the population of the South in particular”.

Diplomatic efforts

From a diplomatic point of view, the United States are leading efforts to obtain a de-escalation. A senior US official confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with President Aoun and Prime Minister Netanyahu. “To advance the talks, the United States has proposed a clear sequence: Hezbollah must cease all attacks against Israel. In exchange, Israel will refrain from escalation to Beirut“, the source said.

Conditions on withdrawal

As reported by the Israeli public broadcaster CanTel Aviv subordinates the pace of its withdrawal from Lebanon to progress in disarmament of Hezbollah. The Israeli proposal provides for a gradual withdrawal of troops towards the south and a reduction of Safety Zoneproportional to the effectiveness of the Lebanese regular army’s operations. However, government officials told Kan that total disengagement will not take place “as long as a threat exists.”

The clashes on the field

Meanwhile, on the field the fighting. Hezbollah, supported byIransaid it targeted Israeli units near Beaufort, as well as military positions and infrastructure in Shlomi e Nahariyyawhile warning sirens rang out in the area Acre.

Origin of the conflict

The conflict in Lebanon accelerated sharply on 2 Marchfollowing Hezbollah’s rocket fire in retaliation for thekilling of the Iranian Supreme Leader by the United States and Israel. Despite one truce formally entered into force on April 17the ceasefire was never respected, with constant mutual accusations of violations.

Death toll

The human toll of the campaign is severe. The Israeli army announced that “since the beginning of the ceasefire, 900 Hezbollah terrorists have been eliminated”. On the other hand, the latest bulletin from the Lebanese Ministry of Health certifies that the Israeli attacks have caused the death of over 3,412 people starting at the beginning of March.

Negotiating prospects

The negotiating channels remain partially open: military delegations of Beirut e Tel Aviv they held security talks at Washington last Friday, and further U.S.-coordinated mediation sessions are scheduled for next week.