File image.
Hezbollah on June 3 released drone footage indicating that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has very much abandoned Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon.
The castle, located on a strategic height, was captured by the IDF over the weekend. Israeli troops crossed the Litani River’s 90-degree bend, just across from the border town of Metula, and stormed the castle, which overlooks the Galilee Panhandle in northern Israel, as well as the Nabatieh area in southern Lebanon.
However, the footage released by Hezbollah, reportedly taken on June 1, shows no trace of Israeli troops in Beaufort or in its vicinity.
The footage were notably taken using a fiber optic-guided first-person view (FPV) suicide quadcopter equipped with a thermal imager, which allows to strike during nighttime. Hezbollah began using such drones just last month, amid the loose ceasefire brokered by the United States.
These thermal imaging drones have already inflicted some losses on the IDF in Beaufort Castle and nearby, with at least three troops killed.
Hezbollah also released videos showing some of the recent strikes from the area. The strikes targeted two gatherings of Israeli troops, and a Namer armored personnel carrier.
Pushing back against Hezbollah’s claims that Beaufort is abandoned, the IDF announced that Col. Ayub Kayuf took charge of the elite Golani Brigade from Col. Adi Gonen, during a handover ceremony held at the castle. Photos from the event were released.
This was not surprising, however, considering that Hezbollah during the day issued several statements announcing that it had carried out additional drone strikes against Israeli troops near Beaufort.
Click to see full-size image. (Israeli Defense Forces)
Click to see full-size image. (Israeli Defense Forces)
Click to see full-size image. (Israeli Defense Forces)
All in all, fiber optic-guided FPV suicide quadcopters have proven to be a gamechanger for Hezbollah, and with the group equipping these drones — which are completely immune to jamming — with thermal imager, the threat facing the IDF in southern Lebanon is bigger than before.
Even if the IDF maintains access to Beaufort, the fact is that the castle is under the fire control of Hezbollah, which can target it at will with drones.
While Israel expanded its ground control in southern Lebanon in a bid to further pressure Hezbollah, it has in effect exposed its troops more than before.
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