Israeli forces have claimed they have taken control of Beaufort Castle, a strategic hilltop position in southern Lebanon, while 9 Syrian refugee members of a family were killed in bombardment.
According to the Israeli military, the historic fortress—originally built during the Crusader era—was seized in what is described as the deepest Israeli incursion into Lebanese territory in the past 25 years.
The takeover reportedly came after several days of intense fighting and airstrikes near the city of Nabatieh, where Israeli troops engaged Hezbollah fighters in difficult mountainous terrain.
Although a ceasefire has been in place since April 17, it has not been effectively implemented. The latest Israeli advance comes at a time when indirect negotiations between the two sides are ongoing in Washington, with the next round scheduled for June 2 and 3 at the U.S. State Department.
Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee shared an image on the social media platform X showing troops walking outside the fortress. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the Israeli flag had been raised over the site.
The Israeli army had previously captured the fortress in 1982 and maintained control until its withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam strongly condemned the renewed Israeli air operations in southern Lebanon, describing the ongoing campaign as a “scorched earth policy.”
Separately, an Israeli military spokesperson said that a major ground operation has been launched in southern Lebanon, with Israeli forces crossing the Litani River and expanding their operational reach into additional areas.
In a separate incident, a drone attack in Lebanon seriously injured an Israeli battalion commander and a soldier after an explosives-laden drone crashed and detonated in southern Lebanon.