On May 31, 2026, Israeli forces captured the historic Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon for the first time in 26 years, marking a symbolic moment in an escalating military campaign. Troops raised the Israeli flag over the hilltop fortress under cover of white phosphorus smoke, a move widely interpreted as psychological messaging rather than strategic necessity. The site, once used by various forces including the PLO and heavily contested during Israel’s earlier 1982–2000 occupation of southern Lebanon, carries strong historical and emotional weight for both Lebanese and Israelis.

The takeover came amid a renewed Israeli offensive across southern Lebanon, following a largely ineffective ceasefire. The advance was accompanied by intensified airstrikes, including heavy bombardment of the coastal city of Tyre.

For many Lebanese residents and officials, the loss of Beaufort Castle evoked memories of the long Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon from 1982 to 2000. The incident was described locally as a deep psychological blow, symbolizing vulnerability even in places once considered defensible.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah and Lebanese authorities condemned the escalation but appeared unable to halt the military advance, as residents once again fled their homes amid widening conflict.