Israel's Golani Brigade Captures Beaufort Castle (Qal'at al-Shqif) — Deepest Lebanon Incursion in 26 Years; Netanyahu Vows Expansion — Day 93

Israel's elite Golani Brigade captured Beaufort Castle (Qal'at al-Shqif), the Crusader-era hilltop fortress overlooking the Litani River valley near Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon, on May 31, 2026 (Day 93). CNN described the capture as Israel's 'deepest incursion into Lebanon in more than a quarter-century' — 26 years since Israel last held positions at this depth in Lebanese territory. The fortress, which sits at 700 meters elevation and offers commanding views of southern Lebanon, had served as a Hezbollah vantage and coordination position. Netanyahu issued a video statement marking the capture: 'We have returned united, determined and stronger than ever. Now my directive is to deepen and expand our hold in places that were under Hezbollah's control.' Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the capture. The Beaufort Castle seizure came just one day after Netanyahu announced Israeli forces had crossed the Litani River (Day 92), completing the fastest Israeli penetration into Lebanon in decades. The joint Lebanon-Israel-US military security talks at the Pentagon — aimed at establishing a withdrawal timeline and Hezbollah disarmament mechanism — continued even as the Israeli military expanded its ground operations, creating a contradiction between the diplomatic track and military facts on the ground. Lebanon's cumulative death toll reached approximately 3,150+ killed since March 2.