Built as a Crusader castle around the 12th century on top of previous fortifications, it has also been used by Saladin’s Jerusalem army, Mamluks, Ottomans, the French mandate and the Palestine Liberation Organisation. The Crusaders named it Beaufort, which is Old French for “beautiful fortress”. The 1982 capture of the castle from the PLO was a major victory for the Israeli military, which was then led by then-defence minister Ariel Sharon, who later became prime minister. At the time, the Israeli army pushed all the
way north and occupied Beirut. In 2000, the castle was partially restored and opened to visitors. During the previous Israel-Hezbollah war in 2024, UNESCO gave enhanced protection to 34 cultural sites in Lebanon, including Beaufort Castle, to safeguard them from damage. The castle is a few kilometres north of the Israel border and overlooks wide parts of southern Lebanon and northern Israel. In Arabic, it is called Al-Shaqif castle, an old Syriac word referring to the formidable rocky area.
Israel, Lebanon incursion, Beaufort Castle, Al-Shaqif, Crusader fortress, PLO, Ariel Sharon, UNESCO, Lebanon cultural sites, Saladin, Mamluks, Ottomans, French mandate
So they just grabbed the castle like it’s a trophy? wild.
UNESCO was protecting it and they still took it… makes UNESCO look like a joke honestly. Also I saw somewhere Ariel Sharon is involved which feels like history repeating itself, but idk details.
Wait, I thought UNESCO protected cultural sites like for restorations, not like “hey don’t invade the place.” If it’s only a few kilometers from the border then it’s basically a border thing, right? But then they mention the Crusaders and the PLO and Saladin?? How is that supposed to help anybody in 2026.
Beaufort sounds made up (beautiful fortress??) but yeah I’ve heard it called Al-Shaqif too. Next people will be arguing about who built it first again… meanwhile everybody acts surprised there’s fighting near it. I don’t get why the castle is even the main headline unless they’re trying to flex with tourism or something.