Israeli troops have captured a strategic hilltop in southern Lebanon that hosts the historic Beaufort Castle. The Israeli military announced on Sunday that this marks the country’s deepest incursion into Lebanon in more than 25 years. According to the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, the army is focusing on consolidating control over the Beaufort Castle and the nearby Saluki River area.

The fortress, located near the city of Nabatieh, has been a focal point of several major clashes since Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon. Before taking control of the site, Israeli forces carried out days of intense fighting and airstrikes in nearby villages, engaging in heavy battles with Hezbollah fighters. Reports said that control was achieved after heavy shelling and fighting from both ground and air.

The report also noted that Israel and Lebanon have remained in conflict since the establishment of the Israeli state in 1948, underscoring the long-standing hostilities between Tel Aviv and Beirut.