Overview
- Israeli forces captured the medieval Beaufort (Qalaat al-Shakif) Castle and its surrounding ridge, a move the military announced on Sunday, May 31, 2026, as a key tactical gain against Hezbollah.
- The army crossed the Litani River in recent days and has issued broad evacuation and displacement orders for areas south of the Zahrani and around Nabatieh and Tyre.
- Israel says the operation aims to dismantle Hezbollah launch sites and infrastructure on the ridge while Hezbollah has continued to fire rockets and use explosive and fibre-optic drones against northern Israel and IDF troops.
- The fighting has driven a severe humanitarian crisis in Lebanon with thousands reported killed and more than one million displaced while Israeli forces have reported about 25 military deaths since March.
- Military delegations met for US-brokered security talks in Washington last week and political negotiations are planned for early June, but the capture of Beaufort raises the risk that on-the-ground gains will undercut prospects for a stable ceasefire.