Israel's bombing of Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon has sparked outrage after the 900-year-old fortress, one of the region's most recognisable medieval landmarks, was heavily damaged during Israeli military operations targeting Hezbollah in late May 2026.
According toAl Jazeera, the Israeli military confirmed it had captured the site, known locally as Qalaat al-Shaqif, amid an expanded offensive in southern Lebanon, according to statements reported by regional officials and international news agencies.
The bombing came after days of intensified fighting across southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces pushed deeper into territory near Nabatieh while continuing air and ground operations against Hezbollah positions.
Beaufort Castle, perched high above the Litani River, became the recent target in the latest phase of the conflict.
For starters, Beaufort Castle is not just another ruin in a conflict zone. It is a 12th-century Crusader fortress, built nearly 900 years ago on a steep hill roughly 700 metres above sea level. Its location alone explains much of its long military history. Whoever held it could watch over wide stretches of southern Lebanon, the Litani River valley and routes moving toward northern Israel.
The castle has shifted hands repeatedly over centuries, from Crusader control to regional powers, and later into Ottoman hands. In modern history, it has also been tied to armed groups in Lebanon and was previously occupied by Israeli forces following their 1982 invasion, before Israel withdrew in 2000.
Social media was quick to criticise the country, saying not even the 'Nazis' bombed 'historical sites like the palace of Versailles.'
Congratulations to Israel for outdoing the Nazis, who didn't even bomb historical sites like the palace of Versailleshttps://t.co/mzYX5HrdS9
Local Lebanese officials, including the mayor of Arnoun in the Nabatieh area, have said the castle was hit by Israeli airstrikes and shelling during the fighting, and that this caused 'significant damage.' However, they also stress that there is no full on-site assessment yet, because the area is still not safely accessible.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz defended the operations, saying the site had only been retaken during the current operations. He also stated that Israeli soldiers had captured Beaufort again and would maintain a presence there as part of what he described as a security zone in Lebanon.
Source: International Business Times UK
