Israeli army captures strategic castle in Lebanon in deepest incursion into the country in 26 years

Source: Associated Press

Israeli army captures strategic castle in Lebanon in deepest incursion into the country in 26 years

By BASSEM MROUE, KAREEM CHEHAYEB and MELANIE LIDMAN
Updated 8:25 AM EDT, May 31, 2026

BEIRUT (AP) — Israeli troops have captured a strategic mountain topped with a Crusader-built castle in southern Lebanon in the deepest incursion into the country in more than a quarter-century, the military said Sunday.

The capture of Beaufort castle, near the city of Nabatiyeh, came after days of airstrikes and intense fighting in nearby villages where Israeli troops fought Hezbollah members in the rugged area.

Its capture marks a major development in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war, which began on March 2 when Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel two days after the U.S. and Israel attacked its main backer, Iran.

Israel has since launched a ground invasion, capturing dozens of Lebanese villages and towns close to the border. Hezbollah has launched thousands of missiles and drones at Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon and northern Israel.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-capture-castle-beaufort-206c3d6c4dc9a139007f043556a0019b