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Israel Seizes Beaufort Castle in Southern Lebanon

Control of the Crusader-era Beaufort ridge gives Israel an observation advantage that could enable deeper operations into Lebanon.

Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, as seen in the distance from Metula, in northern Israel, June 1, 2026. The mountaintop fortification was built in the 12th century during the Crusades.
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Screenshot comparison of the falsely shared image (L) and an AFP photo of Beaufort castle, with an AI label added and visual inconsistencies highlighted by AFP
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Overview

  • Israeli forces captured Beaufort Castle and planted flags on the site, with the military releasing images showing troops on the ridge after the May 31 operation.
  • Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move shows Israel is stronger and signaled readiness to press further into Lebanon to confront Iran-backed Hezbollah.
  • Agence France-Presse confirmed a widely shared photo purporting to show soldiers raising flags at the castle was fabricated with artificial intelligence, citing a blurry soldier, a mismatched green flag, and detection-tool results.
  • Fighting and security incidents continue around the ridge, where Israeli troops face drone threats and reporters and experts have warned about damage to the UNESCO-listed site.
  • The castle evokes Israel’s 1982 invasion and the 18-year occupation that ended in 2000, a history critics say shows the risk of long entanglement and prompted warnings from commentators about the human and political costs.