Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon as seen from the Israeli side of the border on Sunday amid a cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon. Israeli forces announced they have retaken the strategic Beaufort Ridge north of the Litani River. Photo by Atef Safadi/EPA
May 31 (UPI) -- Israeli troops advanced deep into southern Lebanon on Sunday, capturing the medieval fortress of Beaufort and other areas north of the Litani River, drawing praise from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Video showed the national flag of Israeli and that of the Golani Brigade, one of the Israel Defense Forces' top infantry units, flying above the castle on a strategic ridge as Iran-backed Hezbollah militants rained rocket and drone fire onto northern Israel.
It was the first time Israeli troops have advanced so far north of the Litani since May 2000, when they left Beaufort 18 years after capturing it during the First Lebanon War in 1982.
Referencing that withdrawal 26 years ago, Netanyahu said, "Today, we returned to Beaufort differently. We returned united, determined, and stronger than ever."
