Israel has invaded deeper into Lebanon using this river crossing

On May 31, the Israeli military posted a video showing what it claimed was its first tank to cross the Litani River in southern Lebanon.

It's significant because it shows a lone IDF tank crossing a line that, just weeks earlier, had marked the limit of Israel's invasion into Lebanon in this latest conflict.

ABC NEWS Verify has used satellite imagery, elevation data and local testimony to find the exact crossing point.

The twin bridge crossing

The tank in the video crossed the Litani River at this location, south of the town of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah.

The clip shows a single tank driving over what appears to be a newly constructed crossing. The surrounding area is cleared.

The clip also includes a short video shot from above using a drone, which shows a tank moving in the opposite direction.

In the background of the clip, ridge lines can be seen which ABC NEWS Verify matched to elevation data on Google Earth.

In old satellite imagery, a single bridge can be seen at this spot. An archive of the imagery also shows the top of a single palm tree.

These two points can both be seen in the new video.

Across the river a series of buildings can be seen, including tourist accommodation.

The owner of a local chalet confirmed the video of the tank was filmed at the back of the property, and provided a photo of the area that matches buildings near the crossing.

Commercial satellite imagery further confirms the location of the twin bridge crossing point.

A video from proscribed terror group Hezbollah also shows the area, including the bridges, filmed by a drone which hits what appears to be an armoured vehicle.

The IDF appears to have been in the area for at least a few weeks, with images posted online showing the crossing before the second bridge was constructed.

Fighting in the area

Publicly available satellite images also appear to show there has been military action in nearby Zawtar al-Sharqiyah.

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Before-and-after images show the destruction of buildings in recent weeks; it's unclear whether from air strikes or other explosions.

The crossing identified by ABC NEWS Verify is about five kilometres from the ancient Beaufort Castle.

Videos posted by the IDF earlier this week show soldiers seizing the nearly 900-year-old ruins, which are the location of a crusader-era castle built on top of previous fortifications.

This represents what is said to be the deepest incursion by Israel into Lebanon in a quarter of a century.

The structure has been used by many armies over the centuries, but more recently by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in the 1980s, before it was captured and occupied by Israel.

Speaking after its capture, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the castle as "a symbol of a heroic battle for our fighters" but also "a symbol of deep division between us".

The castle is in the south-east sector of the city of Nabatiyeh, a major Hezbollah stronghold.

Israel's military had ordered residents out of the city ahead of strikes. It said troops were establishing positions south of the city.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Israel of a "scorched-earth policy and collective punishment" in the south of the country by "destroying towns and villages and forcing their inhabitants into exile".

"This will bring neither security nor stability [to Israel],"

he said.

It's unclear what effect a renewed ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon will have on fighting against Hezbollah in the south, which the group has publicly rejected.

"The ceasefire is contingent on a complete cessation of Hezbollah fire and the evacuation of all Hezbollah operatives from the South Litani sector," the document read.

In a statement on Monday, IDF spokesman Efi Dufferin said the military planned on "continuing to deepen the damage" to Hezbollah.

"The IDF is attacking and will continue to attack all over Lebanon, from Dahieh to Tyre."

The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported 3,468 people have been killed in the country by the IDF since March 2, with 10,577 wounded.