Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Monday, 1 June vowed to convert the area around southern Lebanon's Litani River into a military-controlled zone, warning that strikes on Beirut would continue until Hezbollah halts its attacks on Israeli territory. The declaration signals a significant escalation in Israel's operational posture in southern Lebanon.

Katz's Warning to Beirut

In a statement released by his office, Katz issued a stark ultimatum: if there is no peace in northern Israel, 'there will be no peace in Beirut.' The defence minister's remarks come as Israeli forces deepen their foothold in Lebanese territory previously held by Hezbollah.

Later on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Katz issued a joint statement confirming they had ordered the military to strike Beirut's southern suburbs, citing what they described as 'repeated Hezbollah violations' of the ceasefire in Lebanon.

Beaufort Castle Capture and Netanyahu's Statement

On Sunday, Netanyahu announced in a videotaped statement that he had directed the military to 'deepen and expand' its grip on Lebanese areas held by Hezbollah. The instruction followed the capture of the strategically significant Beaufort Ridge, including the historic castle at its summit, in southern Lebanon.

'Last night, our heroic fighters captured the Beaufort Castle. They proudly raised the flag of the State of Israel and the flag of the Golani Brigade there,' Netanyahu said. He added: 'I remind you that 44 years ago, this place was a symbol of a heroic battle by our fighters, but it was also a symbol of deep division among us. Today, we returned to Beaufort differently. We returned united, determined and stronger than ever.'

According to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), Hezbollah had used the Beaufort Ridge as a hub for directing military and combat operations, and had launched numerous attacks from the area.

Ongoing Rocket and Drone Attacks

The Israeli military reported that throughout Monday morning, Hezbollah continued launching rockets and drones toward northern Israel. Some projectiles were successfully intercepted, while others fell in open areas without causing casualties. The IDF also confirmed it had destroyed the launcher used by Hezbollah to fire rockets on Sunday night toward Tiberias, a city in northeastern Israel, with no injuries reported in that incident.

Ceasefire Under Strain

The joint Netanyahu-Katz statement framing the Beirut strike order as a response to ceasefire violations suggests the fragile truce in Lebanon is under severe stress. This comes amid a pattern of tit-for-tat exchanges that have persisted despite earlier diplomatic efforts to stabilise the Israel-Lebanon frontier. Notably, the Litani River zone has long been a focal point of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which called for Hezbollah's withdrawal north of the river following the 2006 war — a condition that has never been fully implemented.

What Comes Next

With Israel now signalling intent to formally militarise the Litani corridor and authorising fresh strikes on Beirut's suburbs, international pressure on both sides is expected to intensify. The situation in southern Lebanon and the broader Israel-Hezbollah front remains volatile, with the risk of further escalation high.