Israeli Forces Appear to Capture Beaufort Castle as Tyre Faces Intensified Strikes
A medieval fortress and an ancient port city have become the latest symbols of Lebanon’s widening war. Israeli forces appeared to take Beaufort Castle, also known as Qalaat al-Shaqif, after advancing for several days through villages surrounding Nabatiyeh, according to footage released by the Israeli military and reports from the region.
The reported capture marks the deepest Israeli incursion into Lebanese territory since 2000 and comes amid intensified strikes on Tyre, the UNESCO World Heritage Site on Lebanon’s southern coast. It also violates the ceasefire that has been in place since April 17.
Beaufort Castle is one of five fortresses in Lebanon’s Mount Amel region on UNESCO’s Tentative List. Originally constructed in 1137 by the Kingdom of Jerusalem during the Crusader period, it was later expanded and modified by the Ayyubids and Mamluks. UNESCO has described the site as one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the Near East and granted it enhanced protections from armed conflict in 2024.
Tyre carries a different but equally layered history. Founded by the Phoenicians, the city was known for Tyrian purple dye and grew into a major maritime and commercial center across multiple civilizations. Its archaeological remains include Roman baths, the vestiges of a residential quarter, and an extensive necropolis.
Lebanese officials condemned the assault. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said in a televised speech on Saturday that Israel was trying to “uproot Lebanon’s memory and erase its history.” Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji said he was following the developments with “deep pain and profound concern,” and described the country’s archaeological heritage as part of the “shared human conscience.”
The damage is not only military. As the conflict deepens, Lebanon’s heritage sites are being pulled into the same field of risk as the civilians who live around them.
