Israeli troops seized a crumbling 12th-century fortress in southern Lebanon, marking their deepest advance into the country in 25 years.
The capture of the Crusader-era Beaufort Castle, which sits atop a strategically important mountain near the Lebanese village of Arnoun, came after days of airstrikes and clashes between Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops and Hezbollah fighters.
Defense Minister Israel Katz posted a photo on X of an Israeli flag flying above the castle, which was captured by Israel in 1982 during the First Lebanon War and occupied for 18 years.
“This is a clear message to our enemies: Those who threaten the citizens of Israel will lose their strategic assets one by one,” Katz said.
Israel said Sunday that its forces, including a “significant number of IDF ground soldiers,” would continue pushing into southern Lebanon to fight Hezbollah.
A truce was struck in April to end the fighting in Lebanon but has never been observed. Lebanon’s prime minister accused Israel on Saturday of pursuing a “scorched earth policy” and enacting “collective punishment” on the residents of southern Lebanon, where scores of villages and towns have been evacuated.
More than 3,000 people have been killed in Lebanon since the sharp escalation in hostilities on March 2, according to the country’s health ministry.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he has directed Israel’s military to take over 70 percent of Gaza’s territory.
