-
Translated by: Flutura Gashi-Mehmeti
- 31 May 2026 13:07
- Share to:
Israeli troops have taken control of Fort Beaufort, a 900-year-old fortress, as well as the strategic ridge surrounding it in southern Lebanon, in a major advance against Hezbollah that took them across the Litani River, Israel's deepest penetration into Lebanon in more than 26 years.
After several days of intense fighting and airstrikes on surrounding villages, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the army had taken the fort, also known as Qalaat al-Shakif, which the Israel Defense Forces had used as a base during the previous occupation of southern Lebanon between 1982 and 2000.
Photos published by Katz and footage verified by the French news agency Agence France-Presse showed Israeli and Golan Brigade flags flying over Fort Beaufort, while shelling could be heard in the surrounding hills.
In a statement, the army said it had "launched an operation in the Beaufort Ridge and the Wadi al-Saluki area in southern Lebanon to destroy Hezbollah's infrastructure and expand its control in this region."
The Israeli army added that its forces had crossed the Litani River and taken positions from which Hezbollah had directed attacks and fired rockets into Israel.
The stalled negotiations between the United States and Iran have created a diplomatic vacuum, during which Israel has intensified its operations in Lebanon. Observers say Israeli officials and military commanders have sought to inflict as much damage as possible on Hezbollah before a potential deal between Tehran and Washington imposes new restrictions or ends the current offensive.
The ceasefire to end fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah officially came into effect on April 17, but has never been fully respected.
Israel and Hezbollah accuse each other almost daily of violating the ceasefire and justify their attacks with allegations of violations by the other side.
For many Lebanese, Nabatieh carries an importance that goes beyond its strategic value. Long considered a symbol of resistance, the city has repeatedly found itself on the front lines of Israeli military campaigns and remains deeply embedded in the political and historical memory of southern Lebanon.
On Saturday, Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Israel of "pursuing a scorched earth policy and collective punishment" by "destroying cities and villages and forcing their inhabitants into exile" in the south of the country.
Salam has warned that the country is facing a "dangerous" escalation and called for "a swift and genuine ceasefire."
Netanyahu calls Lebanon castle capture a 'dramatic change in policy'
Photo: Associated Press
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel had returned to Fort Beaufort "stronger than ever."
"The occupation of Beaufort is a dramatic phase and a dramatic change in the policies we are leading," he said, referring to the military occupation of security zones in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza along Israel's borders.
"It will take more time, but we will restore security to the people of the North, just as we did to the people of the South," Netanyahu said.
The capture of Beaufort Castle, near the town of Nabatiyeh, came after days of airstrikes and intense fighting in nearby villages, where Israeli troops fought Hezbollah members in the tough area.
Her capture marks a major development in the recent Israel-Hezbollah war, which began on March 2 when Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel two days after the US and Israel attacked its main backer, Iran.
Israel has since launched a ground invasion, capturing dozens of Lebanese villages and towns near the border. Hezbollah has fired thousands of rockets and drones at Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon and northern Israel.
The Israeli push came despite a ceasefire that has been in effect since April 17 and just days before the next round of direct talks between Lebanon and Israel to be held at the State Department on June 2 and 3.