Israel captured Beaufort fortress in southern Lebanon

Beaufort fortress with an Israeli flag. Photo: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on X

On the night of May 31, Israeli forces occupied the strategic height with the Crusader-built Beaufort Castle, in southern Lebanon. This is the deepest invasion into the country in more than a quarter of a century, according to the IDF. An Israeli flag now flies over the medieval fortress, Euronews reports.

The capture of the castle, located near the city of Nabatieh, came after several days of airstrikes and fierce fighting in neighboring villages, where Israeli forces clashed with "Hezbollah" militants.

The capture of the fortress marked an important stage in the war between Israel and "Hezbollah", which began on March 2, when the group shelled northern Israel with rockets two days after the US and Israel struck its main patron, Iran.

Since then, Israel has launched a ground invasion, occupying dozens of Lebanese villages and towns near the border. "Hezbollah" has launched thousands of rockets and drones at Israeli military personnel in southern Lebanon and northern Israel.

The advance of the Israeli army is taking place despite a formal ceasefire, which has been in effect since April 17, and a few days before a new round of direct talks between Lebanon and Israel, which are scheduled to take place in the US on June 2-3.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the capture of Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon marks a "dramatic turning point" in Israel's campaign against "Hezbollah" in Lebanon.

"Today we returned to Beaufort differently. We returned united, determined, stronger than ever," Netanyahu said in a video address.

Israeli forces previously took this castle in 1982 and held it until their withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000.

The Israeli army stated that a few days ago it launched an operation on the Beaufort ridge and in the Saluki valley to the south, with the aim of dismantling Hezbollah's infrastructure and eliminating direct threats to Israeli citizens. The document notes that the army is ready to "expand the operation if necessary."

In recent days, Israel has expanded the geography of its operations in Lebanon, deploying troops beyond the Litani River, which previously effectively served as a border, and urging residents to evacuate a significant part of southern Lebanon.

France has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council after Israeli forces occupied Beaufort Castle, the French Foreign Minister announced on Sunday.

"I have requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council because, while recognizing Israel's right, like any state, to self-defense… nothing can justify the continuation of the Israeli military operation in Lebanon and its increasingly deep occupation of Lebanese territory," Jean-Noël Barrot declared on BFMTV.

• 6
• 2
• 0
• 1
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0