BEIRUT, May 31: Israeli troops have captured the strategic Beaufort Castle, a Crusader-era fortress perched on a mountain in southern Lebanon, marking Israel’s deepest military incursion into the country in more than 26 years.
The advance comes after days of heavy fighting and airstrikes in the surrounding region, where Israeli forces battled Hezbollah fighters in rugged terrain near the city of Nabatiyeh.
The seizure of the castle represents a significant development in the latest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which began in early March.
Despite a ceasefire that has nominally been in place since April 17, fighting has continued, with Israeli forces expanding operations in southern Lebanon just days before a new round of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon is scheduled to take place in Washington on June 2 and 3.
Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee shared photographs showing Israeli soldiers at the fortress, while Defence Minister Israel Katz announced that troops had raised an Israeli flag over the site.
Israel had previously captured Beaufort Castle during its 1982 invasion of Lebanon and maintained control of it until withdrawing from the country in 2000.
According to the Israeli military, the operation was launched to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure in the Beaufort Ridge and Suluki Valley areas and eliminate what it described as direct threats to Israeli civilians.
The army said it remains prepared to broaden the operation if necessary. In recent days, Israeli troops have crossed the Litani River, a key geographical boundary in southern Lebanon, and advanced toward Nabatiyeh.
The military has declared the area between the Litani and Zahrani rivers a combat zone and urged residents of Nabatiyeh, Tyre and nearby areas to evacuate. While many civilians have fled, some remain in towns across the region.
Hezbollah and the Lebanese government did not immediately comment on the capture of the castle.
However, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for attacks on Israeli troops and a Merkava tank near the border and said it had engaged Israeli forces in several locations around Nabatiyeh and Beaufort Castle.
The group has recently used fibre-optic drones that have proven difficult for Israel to detect.
The conflict has caused heavy casualties. More than 3,350 people have reportedly been killed in Lebanon and over one million displaced.
Israel says at least 25 soldiers, a defence contractor and two civilians have been killed since the fighting began. (AP)
