Netanyahu orders deeper incursion into Lebanon as Israeli troops seize castle

Israeli troops have seized the 900-year-old Beaufort castle in southern Lebanon. (Supplied: X/Avichay Adraee)

The Israeli military says it has captured Beaufort castle and its strategic ridge in southern Lebanon, after days of intense fighting and air strikes in nearby villages.

The capture is a major advance against Iran-backed Hezbollah, despite a ceasefire announced more than six weeks ago.

Benjamin Netanyahu says he has ordered Israeli troops to push deeper into Lebanon, just days ahead of planned talks on an Israel-Lebanon ceasefire in Washington.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has ordered Israeli troops to move further into Lebanon in the battle against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, despite a ceasefire being announced more than six weeks ago.

It comes after the IDF captured a strategic mountain topped with a Crusader-built castle in southern Lebanon in their deepest incursion into the country in 26 years.

The capture of Beaufort castle near the city of Nabatiyeh followed days of intense fighting and air strikes in nearby villages where Israeli troops fought Hezbollah members in the rugged area.

The seizure marks a major gain for Israel in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war, which began in early March.

Israel and Lebanon have been at war since Israel was created in 1948, and are currently holding direct talks in Washington.

A nominal ceasefire has been in place since April 17 and the next round of talks are set to be held at the US State Department on June 2 and 3.

The Israeli army's Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, posted a photo on X showing Israeli troops walking outside the castle, and Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote on X that they had raised an Israeli flag over the castle.

The Israeli capture of the castle and strategic ridge is a major advance against Iran-backed Hezbollah. (Supplied: X/Avichay Adraee)

Israeli troops previously captured the castle in 1982 and held it until they withdrew from Lebanon in 2000.

The advance has granted Israeli troops an overlook point over much of southern Lebanon and northern Israel, from which attacks have been launched towards Israeli residential areas.

"The occupation of Beaufort is a dramatic stage, and a dramatic shift in the policies we are leading," Mr Netanyahu said in a statement.

The Israeli military said in a statement that it launched an operation a few days ago in the Beaufort Ridge and the Suluki valley further south with the aim of dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure and removing "direct threats to Israeli civilians".

The statement said the army