Israeli units have established control over the legendary Beaufort Fortress, located in Nabatieh in southern Lebanon. This stronghold, which has been considered a strategic point since the Crusades, has repeatedly changed hands between sultans and Templars.
This is reported by Finway
“Soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) raised the Israeli flag over the fortress, and Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the country will hold this strategically important point”.
Strategic significance of Beaufort Castle
Before capturing Beaufort, Israeli forces conducted a series of airstrikes and engaged in fierce battles with Hezbollah militants in the surrounding villages. Following the capture of the fortress, Israel announced the evacuation of residents from areas south of the Zahrani River, expanding the buffer zone along the border with Lebanon. This event marked another significant milestone in the armed confrontation with Hezbollah, which has been ongoing since March when the group shelled northern Israel following the announcement of Operation Epic Fury against Iran.
History of the fortress and its role in the region
Beaufort Castle, which towers over the green hills of Lebanon near the Litani River, has held strategic value for various armies for over a thousand years. Even before the arrival of the Crusaders, a fortification existed here, and in the 12th century, a powerful castle was built on its site. The French term bel fort or beau fort, meaning “beautiful fortress,” has become associated with this site, while the Arabic name Qalʿat al-Shaqīf translates to “Castle of the High Rock”.
The castle has changed hands multiple times: from the Crusaders to the army of Sultan Saladin, then to the Templars, and later it was conquered by the Mamluk Sultan Baybars. In 1782, the fortress was destroyed by the governor of Acre, and the earthquake of 1837 ultimately obliterated its defensive strength. For a long time, the ruins served as a shelter for shepherds until Israeli forces occupied the castle from 1982 to 2000. Now the Israeli army has returned to Beaufort once again.
The next round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon is scheduled for early June. Neither Hezbollah nor the Lebanese authorities have commented on the fortress’s capture by Israeli forces so far.
Interestingly, it was recently discovered that archaeologists found a well-preserved 640-year-old medieval castle under a famous hotel in the French city of Vannes, highlighting the relevance of studying similar historical fortifications in Europe and the Middle East.