Israeli Airstrikes Reportedly Hit 900-Year-Old Crusader Castle in Lebanon
Beaufort Castle (Qalaat al-Shaqif), a 900-year-old Crusader fortress in southern Lebanon, was reportedly struck directly by Israeli airstrikes on May 27, according to local reports and social media footage. The Associated Press reported that the Israeli military released footage appearing to show troops at the site after advancing through villages around Nabatiyeh, describing the move as Israel’s deepest incursion into Lebanese territory since 2000 and a violation of a ceasefire in place since April 17. Built in 1137 by the Kingdom of Jerusalem and later modified by the Ayyubids and Mamluks, Beaufort Castle is on UNESCO’s Tentative List and received enhanced protections from armed conflict in 2024; ARTnews said it contacted UNESCO for comment. The report also notes heavy strikes on Tyre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, prompting condemnation from Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and concern from Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji, who called the city’s heritage part of the “shared human conscience.”
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This story was covered in Protests, Lawsuits, and the Art Market’s Secrets