Israeli airstrikes on May 27 reportedly struck Beaufort Castle, a 900-year-old Crusader fortress in Lebanon, according to social media footage and local reports. The attack follows intensified strikes on the ancient city of Tyre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and marks the deepest Israeli ground incursion into Lebanon since 2000, violating a ceasefire in place since April 17. The Israeli military released footage appearing to show troops at the castle after advancing through villages near Nabatiyeh.
This matters because Beaufort Castle is one of five fortresses in Lebanon's Mount Amel region on UNESCO's Tentative List for World Heritage status, and it was granted enhanced protections from armed conflict in 2024. Tyre, a UNESCO site since 1984, is also legally protected against wartime destruction. Lebanese officials condemned the assault as an attempt to erase the country's history and cultural heritage, highlighting the vulnerability of irreplaceable archaeological sites amid military escalation.