May 31, 2026 | 07:03 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Beaufort Castle, a Crusader-era fortress perched on a strategic hilltop in southern Lebanon, is now under Israeli control after being captured in a military operation against the Hezbollah group, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief Israel Katz said Sunday, ANTARA reported.According to Katz, the operation was carried out on the instructions of Israeli Authority Head Benjamin Netanyahu and involved expanding Israeli military maneuvers to cross the Litani River to control the Beaufort area, which is considered to have high strategic value."Under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and my direction, the [Israeli military] expanded the operations in Lebanon, crossed the Litani River, and captured the Beaufort Ridge – one of the most important strategic points for defending the communities of the Galilee and safeguarding the security of our forces," Katz wrote on the X platform.Beaufort Castle is one of the most important strategic points in southern Lebanon, due to its position overlooking a large area on the Israel-Lebanon border. Israeli forces previously controlled the area during the 1982-2000 Lebanon War before withdrawing from Lebanon in 2000.Meanwhile, Israeli troops' continued advance into Lebanese territory has prompted an increase in Hezbollah rocket attacks on several Israeli cities. Air raid warning sirens were reportedly sounded in Kiryat Shmona, Nahariya, Safed, Karmiel, and several other areas.In response to the deteriorating security situation, Israel's Home Front Command tightened regulations regarding gatherings and the operation of educational institutions in the northern region of the country.A hospital in Nahariya was also ordered to move operations to an underground facility in anticipation of further attacks.Read: UN: Israel Must Halt Attacks on Lebanon, Respect CeasefireClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
