#Lebanon – Israeli forces seized the strategic Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon on Sunday, marking the Israeli military’s deepest ground incursion into the country since its withdrawal in 2000.
Troops from the Israel Defense Forces’ Golani Brigade took control of the 900-year-old Crusader-era fortress and the surrounding ridge after days of intense fighting and airstrikes in nearby villages. The operation followed heavy Hezbollah rocket fire toward northern Israel the previous day.
Perched atop a steep hill overlooking the Litani River near Nabatiyeh, Beaufort Castle has long served as a vantage point with commanding views of southern Lebanon and northern Israel. Built in the 12th century during the Crusades, the medieval stronghold changed hands repeatedly over centuries and became a symbol of strategic control in the region.
In modern conflicts, Israeli forces first captured the site during the 1982 Lebanon War. They held it until the 2000 withdrawal but lost it to Hezbollah control in subsequent years. Sunday’s operation represented the first time Israeli troops returned to the castle in 26 years.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the capture as “a decisive stage and dramatic shift” in Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah. He stated that forces would retain the site as part of a new security zone to protect Israeli communities from rocket attacks. Israeli officials raised the national flag and the Golani Brigade flag atop the ruins.
The advance occurred despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire announced more than six weeks earlier. Lebanese officials condemned the move as a violation and “vicious aggression,” while Israel described it as necessary to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure and secure high ground near the border.
One Israeli soldier, Staff Sgt. Michael Tyukin, died during the fighting around the castle. Hezbollah did not immediately comment on casualties from the clashes.
The capture deepened Israel’s footprint north of the Litani River and prompted fresh evacuation orders in southern Lebanese villages. It evoked memories of Israel’s earlier occupation and the bloody battles that once surrounded the fortress.
As of Sunday evening, Israeli forces continued operations in the area, while diplomatic efforts by U.S. officials aimed to prevent further escalation. The development underscored the fragility of the fragile ceasefire amid ongoing tensions between Israel and the Iran-backed group.
Image: occupied Beaufort Castle with the Israeli flag raised.
