IDF Captures Beaufort Castle as Ground Forces Push North of Litani River

Israeli forces from the 98th Division launched a major ground offensive in the Wadi Saluki / Beaufort Ridge area on May 31, 2026, capturing Beaufort Castle (Qal'at Shaqif) — a Crusader-era hilltop fortress at 715 metres elevation commanding the Litani gorge. The operation was preceded by 'massive' IAF airstrikes, artillery, and tank shelling. The IDF stated it found 'significant Hezbollah infrastructure established with Iranian assistance' including command posts and rocket launch sites inside the fortress complex. One Israeli soldier was killed and four wounded in a Hezbollah explosive drone strike during the operation. The IDF's 146th Division simultaneously completed three months of operations in southern Lebanon, having struck 550+ fighters and dismantled 2,700+ Hezbollah infrastructure sites. The capture of Beaufort — which commands the entire southern approach to the Bekaa Valley — significantly reduced the probability of Israel completing a full withdrawal from southern Lebanon by the June 30 ceasefire deadline. European leaders condemned the advance.