The IDF withdrew from Beaufort on May 24, 2000, as part of Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s controversial decision to unilaterally abandon Israel’s security in southern Lebanon.
By Hezy Laing
A couple of days ago the IDF’s Golani Brigade recaptured the Beaufort Castle, after 26 years that it was in the hands of the Hezbollah.
Beaufort Castle, known in Hebrew as Metzudat Ha’Bofort,is a 12th‑century Crusader fortress located in southern Lebanon overlooking the Litani River and the Marj Ayoun Valley.
The IDF first became involved with the site during the 1978 Operation Litani, when it briefly entered southern Lebanon to push back PLO forces threatening Israel’s northern communities.
The most significant chapter in IDF history at the Beaufort began on June 6, 1982, the first day of the First Lebanon War, when the Golani Brigade’s 12th Battalion, commanded by Lt. Col. Giora Lev, was ordered to capture the fortress from entrenched PLO fighters.
The battle became one of the most iconic engagements of the war.
The assault was led on the ground by Captain Amos Yarkoni, Lieutenant Moshe “Musa” Cohen, and Lieutenant Avner Shalev, with soldiers advancing on steep terrain under heavy machine‑gun and RPG fire.
Six Israeli soldiers were killed in the battle, including Lieutenant Moshe Cohen, Sergeant Rami Zohar, Sergeant Yossi Ovadia, Sergeant Yitzhak Ben‑Shalom, Corporal Yoram Shachar, and Corporal Shlomo Cohen.
Despite the casualties, the IDF captured the Beaufort after several hours of intense fighting. The battle became a symbol of bravery.
Following the 1982 capture, the IDF maintained a permanent presence at Beaufort Castle for 18 years, integrating it into the South Lebanon Security Zone established in cooperation with the South Lebanon Army (SLA).
The site served as an observation post, artillery‑spotting position, and intelligence‑gathering station due to its commanding view of southern Lebanon.
IDF units stationed there included elements of Golani, Nahal, and Engineering Corps battalions.
The fortress was repeatedly targeted by Hezbollah, which emerged in the mid‑1980s and carried out mortar attacks, anti‑tank strikes, and infiltration attempts against the outpost.
Control of Beaufort Castle significantly enhanced Israel’s security.
The fortress sits 710 meters above sea level and provides a commanding view of the Litani River, Marj Ayoun Valley, and the approaches to northern Israel, including the Hula Valley and the Galilee panhandle.
By holding the Beaufort, the IDF gained a strategic observation point that allowed early detection of PLO and later Hezbollah movements, rocket‑launch teams, and infiltration attempts.
The outpost became a central node in Israel’s intelligence‑gathering network in southern Lebanon, enabling real‑time surveillance and artillery spotting for units positioned along the security zone.
Its elevation allowed the IDF to monitor long‑range Katyusha launch sites and disrupt attacks before they reached Israeli towns such as Kiryat Shmona, Metula, and Misgav Am.
The Beaufort also served as a defensive anchor for the South Lebanon Army, helping stabilize the eastern sector of the security belt.
Although exposed to frequent Hezbollah fire, the IDF’s presence at the castle created a buffer that reduced cross‑border attacks and delayed the emergence of Hezbollah’s fortified positions near the Israeli border.
The IDF withdrew from Beaufort on May 24, 2000, as part of Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s controversial decision to unilaterally surrender Israel’s security zone in southern Lebanon.
The withdrawal was completed under fire, and the Beaufort outpost was the last major IDF position evacuated.
After the withdrawal, Hezbollah took control of the area, and the site later underwent partial restoration by the Lebanese government.
Israel’s recapture of the Beaufort Ridge and the nearby Talat Ali al‑Taher after crossing the Litani River marks a major strategic shift in the campaign against Hezbollah.
Controlling this high ground disrupts Hezbollah’s supply routes from Nabatieh, the Beqaa Valley and areas north of the Litani, significantly weakening its operational freedom.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said the operation aims to create a buffer zone protecting northern Israel, supported by coordinated air, artillery and ground offensives.
Today, Beaufort Castle remains a powerful symbol in Israeli memory, representing sacrifice and strategic importance in the Lebanese conflict.
