Netanyahu hails capture of Beaufort Castle, vows deeper operations in Lebanon
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised the capture of the historic Beaufort Castle and surrounding strategic high ground in southern Lebanon, calling it a major shift in Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah.
In a video address on Sunday, Netanyahu said Israeli forces had secured key positions overlooking southern Lebanon and northern Israel.
“The Beaufort is a dramatic step. It is a dramatic shift in the policy we are leading,” he said. “We have returned united, determined and stronger than ever.”
The remarks came after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched extensive strikes on what it described as Hezbollah infrastructure in the Beaufort Ridge and Wadi al-Saluki areas. The military said one Israeli soldier was killed during the operation.
Netanyahu said he had instructed the military to expand its operations in Lebanon and confirmed that Israeli troops had crossed the Litani River.
“They seized commanding areas, they conquered the Beaufort Ridge, and now my directive is to deepen and expand our hold in places that were under Hezbollah's occupation,” he said.
The prime minister added that Israeli forces were operating simultaneously in Gaza, Syria and Lebanon, and claimed Israel had established a security zone beyond its borders.
“We will restore security to the residents of the north, just as we did for the residents of the south,” Netanyahu said. “It will take time, but we will complete the mission.”
Israel previously controlled Beaufort Castle from 1982 until its withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000 following the First Lebanon War.
The latest escalation follows Netanyahu’s announcement last week that he had ordered intensified strikes against Hezbollah and an expansion of ground operations aimed at securing what he described as strategic areas.
The fighting comes despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon first announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on April 15 and later extended several times following talks hosted by Washington.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
