Israeli troops capture strategic Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon

Israeli forces have seized control of the strategic Beaufort Castle, a Crusader-era fortress perched on a mountain in southern Lebanon, marking their deepest military advance into Lebanese territory in more than 25 years, the Israeli military announced on Sunday.

The capture of the historic stronghold, located near the city of Nabatiyeh, followed several days of fierce clashes and airstrikes targeting nearby villages where Israeli troops engaged Hezbollah fighters in the mountainous region.

The development represents a significant military gain for Israel in the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah, which escalated into full-scale hostilities in early March. The latest fighting adds to decades of tensions between Israel and Lebanon that date back to the establishment of the Israeli state in 1948.

The operation was carried out despite a ceasefire agreement that has technically remained in effect since April 17.

Israeli military spokesperson for Arabic-language media, Avichay Adraee, shared a photograph on X showing Israeli soldiers moving around the grounds of the fortress following its capture.

Beaufort Castle has previously featured prominently in the conflict between the two countries. Israeli forces first took control of the site in 1982 and maintained a presence there until withdrawing from southern Lebanon in 2000.

In a statement, the Israeli military said it had launched an operation several days earlier across the Beaufort Ridge and the nearby Suluki Valley with the objective of dismantling Hezbollah positions and eliminating what it described as direct threats to Israeli civilians.

The military added that it remained prepared to widen the scope of the operation if circumstances required.

Israel has intensified its military campaign in Lebanon in recent days, issuing evacuation warnings to residents across the country’s southern region while deploying troops beyond the Litani River, an area that had long served as an informal dividing line in previous phases of the conflict.