Israel risks new quagmire in Lebanon with Beaufort fortress capture

Israel has framed the capture of the Crusader-era Beaufort fortress in south Lebanon as a significant turning point in its ongoing offensive against Hezbollah. Military drones documented the assault on the fortress, perched atop a rocky outcrop overlooking a valley, with authorities rapidly distributing footage of troops entering the historic site.

The recapture of Beaufort holds symbolic weight for Israel, echoing a famous 1982 image of then-defense minister Ariel Sharon and prime minister Menahem Begin at the same location. However, for many Israelis, the fortress remains a potent symbol not of victory, but of a protracted and costly military entanglement that ultimately failed to dislodge Hezbollah. "The conquest of Beaufort is the most blatant sign that we haven't learned a thing," stated Nadav Pollak, a professor at Reichman University and former Israeli intelligence officer, decrying the operation as a "stupid PR photo-op."

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The conquest of Beaufort is the most blatant sign that we haven't learned a thing.

Israeli forces occupied southern Lebanon for two decades, during which over 1,200 soldiers were killed and thousands more wounded before their withdrawal in 2000. The military, now engaged in its deepest incursion into Lebanon since that withdrawal, argues the site possesses genuine strategic value, citing Hezbollah's launch of 400 projectiles toward Israel from the area since early March.

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stupid PR photo-op

Avigdor Kahalani, who commanded the 1982 assault on Beaufort against Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) fighters, expressed satisfaction at seeing the Israeli flag fly over the fortress again. However, he viewed the operation primarily as a symbolic milestone and a stepping stone northward, rather than a decisive turning point. "I will be excited the moment they will destroy Hezbollah," Kahalani, a former minister of internal security, told AFP.

Despite Lebanese authorities reporting Hezbollah's acceptance of a U.S. proposal for a mutual cessation of attacks, and President Donald Trump's hopes for an "eternity" of peace, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains committed to operations in southern Lebanon. The military aims to establish a security zone up to the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers from the Israeli border. Yet, Sarit Zehavi, a reserve lieutenant-colonel, noted that most Israelis show little appetite for a return to Lebanon, recalling a childhood atmosphere where daily news often began with reports from the conflict zone.

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I will be excited the moment they will destroy Hezbollah.