Israeli troops have captured the 900-year-old Beaufort Castle (Qalaat al-Shakif) in southern Lebanon, The Guardian reports. Israeli Defence Israel Katz announced the seizure of the strategically significant fortress, which sits on a hilltop overlooking large parts of southern Lebanon.
The advance pushed Israeli forces beyond the Litani River – the deepest incursion into Lebanese territory in more than 26 years. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had previously used the fortress as a base during their occupation of southern Lebanon from 1982 to 2000.
Fighting and strategic significance
After days of heavy fighting and airstrikes on surrounding villages, Katz said the army had taken the castle. Images released by Katz and verified by Agence France-Presse (AFP) show Israeli and Golani Brigade flags flying over the fortress, with shell impacts audible in the surrounding hills and smoke rising.
The IDF said they had launched an operation in the area of the Beaufort Ridge and Wadi al-Saluki to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure and expand control over the area. Troops had crossed the Litani and taken positions from which Hezbollah had directed attacks and fired rockets into Israel.
Background and outlook
The offensive comes in a vacuum created by stalled negotiations between the United States and Iran. Observers believe Israel wants to inflict maximum damage on Hezbollah before a possible deal between Tehran and Washington. Israeli forces appear to be positioning for a potential encirclement of Nabatieh, an economically and culturally significant city in southern Lebanon. Control of the surrounding hills would offer a significant tactical advantage.
Source: www.theguardian.com
