What the capture of Beaufort Castle means for Israel's war in Lebanon

Beaufort Castle, a 900-year-old fortress in southern Lebanon, is back in focus amid renewed reports of Israeli control. Once a major battlefield in 1982, it’s now largely a restored heritage and tourist site, but it still carries strong symbolic weight. “In my view, the operation was driven primarily by historical and symbolic considerations—the desire to say, once again say, ‘We have captured Beaufort Castle,’” says Mueen Al-Taher, who was a Palestinian military commander in the Nabatieh-Beaufort area in 1982. He argues it has limited direct military value today, given modern warfare and surveillance. But he says it could still have strategic value, possibly as a forward position to support wider operations. He suggests it may help future movement and expansion toward the Nabatieh plateau, which could make control over southern Lebanon easier from a central point. Support stories that matter. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR0fZh5SBxxMNYdg0VzRFkg/join Catch previous episodes of MEE LIVE, our biweekly news programme exploring the stories shaping our world through breaking coverage, expert analysis, and hard-hitting interviews. Originally airing Tuesdays & Thursdays at 12pm ET | 5pm BST Got a story tip or question? Reach us at [email protected] Subscribe to our channel: http://ow.ly/AVlW30n1OWH Subscribe to MEE Telegram channel to stay up to date: https://t.me/MiddleEastEye_TG Middle East Eye Website: https://middleeasteye.net Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@middleeasteye Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/MiddleEastEye Like us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/MiddleEastEye Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye