The Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, said this Sunday, May 31, that the army had seized the medieval fortress of Beaufort, in southern Lebanon, where it expanded its operations against pro-Iranian Hezbollah.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu and under my leadership,” the army “expanded its operations in Lebanon, crossed the Litani River and took the Beaufort Ridge – one of the most important strategic points to defend the localities of Galilee (in the north of Israel, Editor’s note) and preserve the security of our soldiers”, indicated the minister on his Telegram channel.
An Israeli flag flying over the fortress
Israeli forces used Beaufort as a base during their two-decade occupation of southern Lebanon that ended in 2000. The site overlooks large swathes of southern Lebanon.
“Forty-four years after the heroic Battle of Beaufort and on this day of commemoration of the soldiers who fell during the First Lebanon War (1982)”, soldiers “returned to the summit of Beaufort and once again hoisted the flag of Israel”, added Israel Katz.
The Arabic-speaking spokesperson for the Israeli army, Avichay Adraee, also published on X a photo showing Israeli soldiers walking near the fortress.
AFP images show the Israeli flag flying over the fortress on Sunday morning, as artillery fire rings out and smoke rises from the surrounding area.
Original article published on BFMTV.com
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