A civil defense worker inspects the site of an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese city of Sour, May 31, 2026. An Israeli strike near a hospital in the city wounded 13 staff members, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. (Credit: Kawnat Haju/AFP)
Israel on Monday ordered strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, as it intensified its attacks on Lebanon, drawing condemnation from Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who described the campaign as "fierce and reprehensible aggression."
At France's request, the U.N. Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting Monday on the war. French President Emmanuel Macron said "nothing justifies the major escalation under way in southern Lebanon."
The meeting comes as the United States continues negotiations with Iran aimed at securing a lasting end to the regional war. Tehran reiterated Monday that any agreement with Washington remains conditional on a cease-fire in Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the capture of Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, announced Sunday, as a "major turning point" and called on Israeli forces to expand their control over areas previously held by Hezbollah.
Israeli attacks on Lebanon have continued almost daily despite a cease-fire that formally took effect April 17 but has never fully held.
Israeli forces have advanced deeper into southern Lebanon in recent days while maintaining an intensive air campaign. Hezbollah has continued launching drone attacks against Israeli positions in southern Lebanon and northern Israel.
'Impossible to return hone': More Israeli forced evacuation orders
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have ordered the military to strike what they claimed were, as they often do without concrete evidence, “Hezbollah terrorist targets” in Beirut’s southern suburbs, according to a joint statement reported by Haaretz.
The statement said the order came in response to what Israel described as repeated Hezbollah violations of the cease-fire agreement, as well as attacks on Israeli cities and civilians, all while Israel assaults and kills Lebanese people almost every day since March 2.
Hezbollah maintains a strong presence in Beirut's southern suburbs as well as in southern and eastern Lebanon.
The Israeli military also ordered the evacuation of nine villages in the Saida and Jezzine districts on Monday.
As Lebanon prepares for further talks with Israel in Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday, Aoun condemned Israel's latest operations.
The capture of Beaufort Castle, a 12th-century Crusader fortress overlooking southern Lebanon and part of northern Israel, opens a route toward the Nabatieh region.
For Zeinab Fakih, who fled nearby Nabatieh, the development is "tragic."
"It is impossible for us to return home because the city is largely destroyed," she told AFP from a shelter for displaced people in Saida.
On Sunday, an Israeli strike on Deir al-Zahrani in the Nabatieh district killed eight people, including three women, and wounded 19 others, including five children, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry.
U.S.-backed talks
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Aoun and Netanyahu about negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, which Hezbollah opposes.
"To move these talks forward, the United States has proposed a clear plan: Hezbollah must end all its attacks against Israel. In return, Israel would refrain from any escalation in Beirut," a U.S. official said Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Since the war began on March 2, more than 3,412 people have been killed in Lebanon and more than 1 million displaced, according to Lebanese authorities.
The Israeli military death toll in Lebanon rose to 26 after another soldier was killed Monday.
