Beaufort Castle: Israel Hoists Flag over Castle in Southern Lebanon
Hezbollah says Israeli forces have not secured the fortress and are still facing resistance after more than five days of airstrikes and shelling, the group said.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered military strikes on what they termed "Hezbollah terrorist targets" in Beirut's southern suburbs, while the military claimed to have captured Beaufort Castle.
- Hezbollah stated its fighters are waging a "war of attrition" against Israeli forces around the fortress, accusing Israel of overstating its control after intense fighting over more than five days.
- On Sunday, Israeli air forces carried out 89 airstrikes on 42 locations across southern Lebanon, while the military ordered residents of seven villages to evacuate and relocate north of the Zahrani River.
- Following Israeli threats to Beirut's southern suburbs, the Lebanese University administration announced postponement of exams at its Hadath and Saida campuses until next week.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that "any violation of the cease-fire on one front constitutes a violation of the cease-fire on all fronts," signaling potential broader regional escalation.
32 Articles
32 Articles
ANALYSIS | 'Old stones' in a new war: Why seizing Lebanon's Beaufort Castle won't stop Hezbollah
Israeli forces recently captured southern Lebanon's historic Beaufort Castle, marking the second time in 26 years the site has been taken. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presents the move as a strategic victory, critics argue it is a symbolic gesture driven by domestic politics.
Could the capture of Beaufort Castle cripple Hezbollah’s ambitions?
The timing is significant for the ongoing Israeli-Lebanese negotiations in Washington, D.C. By Jose Lev Alvarez, Middle East Forum On May 31, 2026, the Israel Defense Forces seized Beaufort Castle and the surrounding Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon. This marks the deepest Israeli ground penetration since the 2000 withdrawal from the security zone. The move followed repeated Hezbollah rocket and drone barrages that violated the April 2026 ceas…
Israel risks new quagmire in Lebanon
Israel has portrayed the capture of a Crusader-era fortress as a turning point in its offensive against Hezbollah, but the operation has also sparked fears of a new quagmire in south Lebanon.Israeli authorities praised the symbolism of the capture of Beaufort, perched atop a rocky outcrop, as they announced its capture in an assault documented by military drones.Almost 44 years to the day earlier, Israeli forces had seized the same commanding po…
Israeli soldier killed near Beaufort Castle, symbol of past occupation of Lebanon
An Israeli soldier has been killed and multiple more were injured as the Israel Defense Forces holds onto a historic fort in Lebanon that has become a symbol of the country’s previous occupations. An Israeli militia staff sergeant died Monday in a Hezbollah drone attack that injured three others near Beaufort Castle, a dilapidated fortress built by Christian knights in the 12th century. The Israeli militia had successfully captured the site and …
The Israeli flag flying at Beaufort Castle does not yet mean the defeat of Hezbollah, writes special editor Jouko Juonala.
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