Egypt has reaffirmed the need for a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, while Israel says its ground operation in southern Lebanon is “expanding to additional areas.”

In a phone call with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Saturday, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stressed Egypt’s solidarity with Lebanon in the face of current challenges.

Abdelatty underscored that undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity constitutes a blatant violation of international law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

Israeli military spokesperson Ella Waweya announced on Sunday that the army had launched “a large-scale operation” across areas of southern Lebanon.

In a post on X, she said the operation, which began several days ago, involves a large number of ground forces conducting offensive activities to “expand the forward defense line.”

She added that operations are currently “expanding to additional areas.”

Israel also announced on Sunday that its forces had captured the Crusader-built Beaufort Castle, located on a ridge overlooking the Litani River near the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh.

Images shared by the Israeli Broadcasting Corp showed Israel’s flag and the banner of the Golani Brigade flying above the castle.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the capture of Beaufort Ridge represents “one of the most important strategic points for the defense of the Galilee communities.”

The Israeli military also issued a new warning to residents south of the Zahrani River, saying it was strongly operating against Hezbollah in the area and ordering them to leave their homes immediately. It warned that any movement southward could put lives at risk.

During the phone call yesterday, Abdelatty stressed the need to ensure that weapons remain exclusively in the hands of the Lebanese state.

He said this is a fundamental pillar for preserving Lebanon’s security and stability, supporting state institutions, and safeguarding the capabilities of the Lebanese people.

The foreign minister also emphasized the importance of supporting Lebanese state institutions, particularly the Lebanese army, to enable them to extend state authority and sovereignty across the entire national territory.