APTOPIX Israel Lebanon Iran War

Israeli troops have captured a strategic mountain topped with a Crusader-built castle in southern Lebanon in their deepest incursion into the country in more than a quarter-century. The Israel military announced Sunday that it captured Beaufort castle near the city of Nabatiyeh, after days of intense fighting and airstrikes in nearby villages where Israeli troops fought Hezbollah militants. The capture marks a major gain for Israel. Israel and Lebanon held direct talks in Washington last week and are due to meet again this week. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to Lebanese and Israeli leaders to propose a path to continue negotiations, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private diplomatic conversations.

U.S. President Donald Trump says Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to dial back fighting after he talked with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and communicated with the Lebanon-militant group through mediators. Trump announced the development Monday in a social media post following a call with Netanyahu. Israeli forces recently made their deepest incursion into Lebanon in more than a quarter century. Trump’s comments emerged after Israel’s government ordered strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut and as Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israel, including the outskirts of the coastal city of Haifa.