ARNOUN — Israeli forces captured Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon on Sunday for the first time in 26 years and raised the Israeli and Golani Brigade flags above it. The castle is located in the town of Arnoun, which had been evacuated prior to the operation due to Israeli airstrikes.
White phosphorus smoke was used by Israeli forces as a screen during their advance on the castle. Israeli soldiers entered both Arnoun and Beaufort Castle without encountering resistance. The Israeli military later released footage showing troops ascending the castle steps, set to the song "Waynun" by Fairuz.
Hussain Alawieh, a tour guide based in south Lebanon, said: "The raising of the Israeli flag and the flag of the Golani Brigade above the castle caused a shock to me and to all southerners and Lebanese people." He added: "Raising the Israeli flag above it is intended to send a message of psychological domination and defeat to the population, conveying that the ‘sites you considered impregnable have fallen.’"
Fouad Fatimi, mayor of Arnoun, said: "Of course, it brought me back to the occupation. We went back to 1986, 1987, and 2000. It brought back memories of those painful days." Fatimi had previously recorded a phone call from an Israeli officer instructing residents to leave Arnoun ahead of the military operation.
The capture occurred during a recent escalation in the conflict, with Israeli ground forces advancing in Lebanon and warplanes killing at least a dozen people per day last week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel was deepening its invasion of Lebanon. The Lebanese government and Hezbollah condemned the escalation of Israeli military actions.
Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah MP, said: "[The resistance] has never claimed to prevent invasion or occupation of territory, nor has it claimed to possess an armament balance." He added that Hezbollah would work to prevent the Israeli military from consolidating control over occupied areas.