Israel Pushes Deeper Into Lebanon

Israeli forces expanded their ground operations into southern Lebanon on May 30, 2026, capturing the strategic Beaufort Castle near Nabatieh and issuing evacuation warnings for residents south of the Zahrani River. This escalation occurred as U.S. President Donald Trump indicated he was in no hurry for a deal with Iran, seeking amendments to a preliminary agreement. The developments mark a significant intensification of regional conflict on the 93rd day of the broader war involving Iran.

The Israeli military announced a "large-scale operation" in the Beaufort Ridge and Wadi al-Salouqi areas, with ground soldiers commencing offensive operations to expand their Forward Defense Line and crossing the Litani River. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Israel of pursuing a "scorched-earth policy." Concurrently, a senior Iranian commander warned of a forceful response to any aggression, and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have shot down a U.S. drone.

Amidst these military actions, U.S. media reported that President Trump requested several amendments to the preliminary agreement with Iran during a White House meeting. Trump stated that the U.S. was "slowly but surely" achieving its objectives in negotiations, with a key guarantee being the absence of nuclear weapons. Congress also advanced a U.S.-Israeli military integration plan, aiming to deepen cooperation on weapons research, production, and technology.