Israeli army captures strategic castle in Lebanon

The capture of Beaufort Castle near the town of Nabatiyeh came after days of heavy fighting and airstrikes in nearby villages where Israeli forces battled Hezbollah members in the rugged area.

The Israeli attack came despite a nominal ceasefire in place since April 17.

The Arab spokesman for the Israeli army, Avichay Adraee, posted a photo on X showing Israeli troops outside the castle. Israeli forces previously captured the castle in 1982 and held it until they withdrew from Lebanon in 2000.

The Israeli military said in a statement that it launched an operation a few days ago in the Beaufort Ridge and the Suluki Valley further south with the aim of dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure and eliminating “direct threats to Israeli civilians.”

The statement said the army is ready “to expand the operation if necessary.”

Israeli forces have been advancing for days on villages near Beaufort Castle after crossing the Litani River, which the Israeli army previously used as a de facto border.

They are now about five kilometers from the city of Nabatiyeh, an important center in southern Lebanon.

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah or the Lebanese government on the Israeli pressure.

The latest war between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2, when Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel, two days after the US and Israel attacked their main backer, Iran.

Israel has since launched a ground invasion, capturing dozens of Lebanese towns and cities close to the border.

This has killed 3,350 people in Lebanon and displaced more than 1 million people.