Middle East crisis: Netanyahu hails capture of castle in Lebanon as nominal ceasefire left in tatters – as it happened

Israeli offensive marks deepest incursion into country in 26 years and comes shortly before talks due to be held in the US

• Israeli troops capture strategic Beaufort Castle as they push deeper into Lebanon

By capturing Beaufort castle and pushing past the Litani river, Israeli forces appear to be positioning themselves for a potential encirclement of Nabatieh, a city that serves as an economic centre and a cultural heartland for southern Lebanon, Lorenzo Tondo writes.

Control of the surrounding hills would provide commanding views over large parts of southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa valley, offering a significant tactical advantage.