Israel seizes strategic Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon incursion

BEIRUT – 31 May 2026: Israeli troops have captured a strategic mountain in southern Lebanon topped by the Crusader-built Beaufort Castle, the military said on Sunday.

The seizure of the site near Nabatieh followed days of airstrikes and heavy fighting in nearby villages, where Israeli forces engaged Hezbollah fighters in the rugged border region.

The capture is a significant development in the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict, which escalated in early March, coinciding with the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Israel has since expanded its ground offensive, taking control of multiple villages and towns near the border, while Hezbollah has launched missiles and drones targeting Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and northern Israel.

Images shared by the Israeli Broadcasting Corp showed Israel’s flag and the banner of the Golani Brigade flying above the castle.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the capture of Beaufort Ridge represents "one of the most important strategic points for the defense of the Galilee communities."

Meanwhile, Israeli military spokesperson Ella Waweya announced on Sunday that the army had launched "a large-scale operation" across areas of southern Lebanon.

In a post on X, she said the operation, which began several days ago, involves a large number of ground forces conducting offensive activities to "expand the forward defense line."

She added that operations are currently "expanding to additional areas."