Beaufort Castle, situated near Nabatiyeh, has fallen into Israeli control following several days of fierce combat and aerial bombardment in the surrounding villages. Israeli forces engaged in intense skirmishes with Hezbollah fighters throughout the rugged terrain.
This military advance occurred despite an official ceasefire that has been in effect since April 17.
Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army’s Arabic spokesperson, shared an image on social media platform X, depicting Israeli soldiers outside the historic castle. The site was previously seized by Israeli forces in 1982 and remained under their control until their withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000.
According to an Israeli military statement, a recent operation was initiated in the Beaufort Ridge and the Suluki Valley, aiming to dismantle Hezbollah’s infrastructure and eliminate “direct threats to Israeli civilians.”
The military emphasized its readiness to “expand the operation if necessary.”
For several days, Israeli troops have been progressing through villages near Beaufort Castle after crossing the Litani River, which has historically served as a practical boundary for the Israeli military.
They are now about five kilometres from the city of Nabatiyeh, a major centre in southern Lebanon.
There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah or the Lebanese government on the Israeli push.
The latest Israel-Hezbollah war began on March 2, when Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel two days after the US and Israel attacked its main backer, Iran.
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Israel has since launched a ground invasion, capturing dozens of Lebanese villages and towns close to the border.
It has left 3,350 people dead in Lebanon and over 1 million people displaced.
