Israeli Forces Seize Medieval Beaufort Castle in Lebanon

On May 27, 2026, Israeli forces captured the Beaufort Castle (Qal'at al-Shaqif) in southern Lebanon, a strategic Crusader fortress dating to the 12th century. The castle, listed on UNESCO's tentative World Heritage list, has been a contested site for 900 years. It was originally built by Crusader king Fulk of Anjou in 1139, later taken by Saladin in 1190, returned to Crusaders, ceded to the Templars, and finally conquered by Mamluk sultan Baybars in 1268. During the 1982 Israeli invasion, the castle was seized and used as a military base until 2000, when Israel withdrew and partially demolished it. After restoration, it reopened to tourists. The current capture, reported by the Israeli army and Associated Press, follows days of fighting near Nabatiyeh and marks the deepest Israeli incursion into Lebanon since the early 2000s. An Israeli flag was reportedly raised at the site. The event highlights the vulnerability of Lebanon's cultural heritage amid ongoing conflict, including recent bombings near the UNESCO-listed city of Tyre.