And they soon lost again to the Muslim conqueror Saladin, who first took Jerusalem and then so many Crusader castles. Later, the Mamelukes and Ottomans fought over the festivals on the rock. It went back and forth for centuries. What hasn't changed to this day. The weapons are more modern, the fight is with drones and missiles, but still for the old walls, of whose beauty, which once gave the name, there is little left. It is about strategic control of an important region in southern Lebanon, a Hezbollah stronghold. And of course also about a narrative that the general public understands: the great battle for a large castle and the hill ranges of Ali al-Taher in its surroundings, which is supposed to bring Israel closer to victory. There is actually a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Israeli troops have been advancing for weeks, even though a ceasefire has actually been agreed between Lebanon and Israel. Eleven dead Lebanese were reported over the weekend. From Israel's perspective, the ceasefire only applies to the other side. In early June, the Israeli army's spokeswoman for the Arab region showed a video of the capture of Beaufort Castle. Long tunnels could be seen under the castle, where Hezbollah, controlled and financed by Iran, had stored its weapons with which it attacks northern Israel. In Israel the conquest was celebrated as a great success. But the older ones also remembered that in 1982, then Prime Minister Menachem Begin stood at Beaufort Fortress and spoke of a great victory. At that time, the army managed to drive out Yasser Arafat's PLO, which had attacked Israel from Lebanon. Israel then occupied the south of Lebanon until 2000 and contributed to the strengthening of Hezbollah, which was celebrated as a resistance movement after the withdrawal. Over the years, the militia has repeatedly attacked Israel, most recently in 2023 and 2024. Benjamin Netanyahu's government has been fighting back mercilessly since then, entire areas of the country have been depopulated, thousands of civilians killed, villages razed to the ground, and more than 200 medics killed. The Army's operations have names like "Eternal Darkness." The central project: the disarmament of Hezbollah As in Gaza, the USA is trying to implement a peace plan: the disarmament of Hezbollah against the withdrawal of the Israelis, who currently occupy around six percent of Lebanese territory. Unlike in Gaza, Lebanon also has a partner: the government of President Joseph Aoun has made the disarmament of Hezbollah its central project, but peacefully, as Aoun emphasizes, otherwise there would be a civil war. The plan is therefore to create so-called pilot zones in which the Lebanese army takes control, Hezbollah is disarmed - and Israel withdraws. A first pilot zone was abandoned by Israel a few weeks ago; the residents found little more than rubble. But Israel does not want to withdraw any further, despite pressure from Washington. There is an election campaign in Israel, and that means more war, more deaths. Donald Trump's peace plan was rejected in Gaza. The Israeli army also wants to advance further in Lebanon. Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the IDF to “establish outposts in southern Lebanon as if we were going to stay there for 50 years.” The next step is to take the small mountain range around the fortress of Beaufort, the ridge of Ali al-Taher. According to Israeli information, Hezbollah is said to have dug an extensive tunnel system there, which is a command center for its elite units, Lebanese media report. Around forty of their fighters have been trapped in the tunnels for weeks, including members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The storming of the tunnels, which is a constant topic in the Israeli media, is apparently set to begin in the coming days. Netanyahu may just be waiting for Washington's approval. Many in Lebanon fear that Hezbollah could then take up arms again. Although it rejects disarmament, it has largely adhered to the ceasefire so far. Many in Israel are talking about the most important battle in a long time. It's a story you've heard many times before. In Gaza and Lebanon.
