Israel seizes 900-year-old Beaufort Castle in deepest Lebanon incursion in 26 years, vows indefinite stay
Israeli troops have captured the medieval Beaufort Castle and its strategic ridge in southern Lebanon, marking the deepest Israeli incursion into the country in over a quarter century and a major advance against Hezbollah despite a six-week-old ceasefire.
The capture of Beaufort Castle
Israeli forces have seized the 900-year-old Beaufort Castle and the surrounding ridge in southern Lebanon, the military confirmed on Sunday. The operation focused on establishing control over the Beaufort Ridge and the Wadi al-Saluki area, while degrading Hezbollah infrastructure established under Iranian direction. The castle, a Crusader-built fortress dating to the 12th century, sits at an elevation of 700 meters and provides a commanding overlook of much of southern Lebanon and northern Israel.
Whoever threatens the citizens of Israel will lose their strategic assets one after another.
The advance marks the deepest Israeli incursion into Lebanon since the withdrawal in 2000, when Israel ended an 18-year occupation of the south. Israeli troops had previously held the castle from the 1982 Lebanon invasion until that withdrawal.
Strategic significance and military operations
The Beaufort Ridge has been used for centuries to militarily control the surrounding area. According to the Israeli military, Hezbollah carried out numerous attacks from the ridge, launching "hundreds of projectiles... toward Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers." The Israeli news site Walla reported that the army can now quickly detect Hezbollah movements and attack the militia, significantly complicating the transport of fighters, ammunition, and other goods.
- Hezbollah begins firing rockets and drones into Israel, days after the wider Iran conflict begins.
- Israel establishes a separation line approximately 10 km from the Lebanon border, placing a strip under military control.
- A ceasefire is announced in the wider Iran war, though the Israel-Hezbollah front remains active.
- One of the heaviest days of Hezbollah fire toward northern Israel since the April ceasefire, prompting school closures.
- Israeli troops capture Beaufort Castle and ridge; Defense Minister Katz announces indefinite military presence.
One Israeli soldier was killed in the operation, identified as Michael Tyukin, 21, who died in a Hezbollah drone attack in southern Lebanon. The total number of Israeli soldiers killed in Lebanon or at the border since the operation began now stands at 25. More than 3,300 people have died in Israeli attacks in Lebanon since March 2, when Hezbollah began firing rockets and drones into Israel days after the wider Iran conflict began.
Indefinite presence and political reactions
Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that Israeli troops would remain at Beaufort Castle indefinitely as part of what he called a "security zone" in Lebanon. Speaking at a ceremony commemorating soldiers fallen in the 1982 Lebanon War, Katz stated that "26 years after the withdrawal, our heroic soldiers have recaptured Beaufort and will remain there as part of the security zone in Lebanon." He also celebrated attacks against "thousands of homes" and "terrorist infrastructure" in Lebanese border villages, asserting that "a jihadist enemy only understands one language: conquering territory and destroying homes."
This is an attempt to erase history.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the Israeli actions, accusing Israel of a "scorched earth policy" and widespread destruction in southern Lebanon. He warned that the country must not become a "pawn" in regional conflicts. The Lebanese leadership considers the security zone an occupation of Lebanese territory.
Ceasefire context and ongoing hostilities
The capture comes despite a ceasefire announced more than six weeks ago in the wider Iran war. Saturday saw one of the heaviest days of Hezbollah fire toward northern Israel since the April ceasefire, prompting school closures and restrictions. Israeli troops were also reported operating near Nabatieh, a major Hezbollah stronghold in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military spokesman called on a large portion of residents in southern Lebanon to move north of the Sahrani River, approximately 40 kilometers from the border.
The fortress is a symbol of Hezbollah's arrogance.
There were no immediate comments from Lebanon or Hezbollah regarding the castle's capture. The UNESCO-listed site, described as one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses, was built around 1137 by the then-King of Jerusalem. It remains unclear whether the site was damaged during the fighting.
