Israel Seizes 12th-Century Beaufort Castle as Europe Condemns Deeper Lebanon Push
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 1
Israel Seizes 12th-Century Beaufort Castle as Europe Condemns Deeper Lebanon Push
8 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 1
Beaufort castle fell to Israeli forces on Sunday, and Benjamin Netanyahu called the capture a “dramatic shift” before ordering troops to deepen and expand their hold in former Hezbollah areas.
France, the UK and Germany condemned the widening incursion, with Paris seeking a UN Security Council meeting and urging respect for the April ceasefire that has been only sporadically observed.
Israel says the offensive targets Hezbollah after months of cross-border fire, but Lebanon says it amounts to wholesale destruction; the campaign has displaced more than 1 million people and killed 3,300, including dozens of children.
Talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials are due to continue this week in Washington, though Hezbollah is boycotting them and analysts say the Beaufort seizure may be more symbolic than strategically decisive.
That advance also complicates wider US-Iran diplomacy, as Tehran insists any deal on extending the ceasefire and restoring Hormuz shipping must include an end to fighting in Lebanon.
With Beaufort castle captured, is Israel winning the war or just a public relations battle?
Can a US-Iran deal stop the war when Hezbollah itself rejects the Lebanon peace talks?
As cities turn to dust, can a new peace plan finally disarm Hezbollah and rebuild Lebanon?
The 2026 Capture of Beaufort Castle: Israel’s Deepest Lebanon Incursion in 26 Years and Its Humanitarian, Strategic, and Cultural Fallout
Overview
On May 31, 2026, Israeli forces captured the historic Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, marking a major escalation in their offensive against Hezbollah and representing their deepest push into Lebanon in 26 years. After raising their flag atop the castle, black smoke was seen rising from the nearby town of Arnoun. This event is part of a rapidly expanding Israeli operation, which included issuing evacuation orders for areas within a 25-mile radius north of the border. The capture of Beaufort Castle highlights both the intensifying conflict and the strategic importance of controlling key positions in the region.