Context
The Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon was recently in the news after Israeli forces captured the historic fortress and its surrounding ridge during ongoing military operations in the region, highlighting its strategic significance.
About Beaufort Castle
- Beaufort Castle (Qalaat al-Shaqif) is a medieval fortress located near Nabatieh in southern Lebanon.
- The castle is located about 14.5 km from the Israeli border and overlooks the Litani River Valley and parts of northern Israel.
- The fortress has witnessed several conflicts because of its strategic location.
- The castle was built by the Crusaders in the 12th century and was later controlled by Muslim, Mamluk, and Ottoman rulers.
- During the 1982 Lebanon War, Israel captured the castle from the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and held it until 2000.
- It is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the Near East.
