Smoke rises near the Beaufort Castle, as seen from Marjayoun, southern Lebanon, May 29, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Stringer
The Israel Defence Forces announced the capture of Lebanon’s Beaufort Castle or Qalaat al-Shaqif on June 1, 2026. In an official statement, the IDF confirmed the capture and said that the operation was carried out by Israel’s Golani Brigade along the castle’s ridge area to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure.Why has Lebanon’s Beaufort castle been captured?Israel has been carrying out a ground invasion of Lebanon, with devastating air strikes, from early March. Fighting continued between Israel and Hezbollah despite a ceasefire announced by U.S. president Donald Trump on April 17.Beaufort Castle’s capture by Israel is significant as it sits atop a high mountain ridge and overlooks vast expanses of southern Lebanon and northern Israel, making it an important military asset. It overlooks the Litani River valley and is just outside the major city of Nabatiyeh.The IDF has stated that the operation to capture the Beaufort was to clear out the Hezbollah infrastructure and eliminate “direct threats to Israeli civilians.”Meanwhile, Hezbollah said their fighters were still actively battling Israeli troops near Beaufort Castle, describing the situation as a “battle of attrition.” President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, has condemned the capture and said that “Lebanon is facing a fierce and condemned Israeli aggression.” Beaufort Castle - a historical timeline
