Beaufort Ridge
Beaufort Ridge is a strategic high-ground area in southern Lebanon, historically significant for its commanding view of the Galilee and the Litani River. In June 2026, the IDF exposed a massive, Iranian-funded Hezbollah tunnel network beneath the ridge, designed as a primary staging ground for large-scale attacks against northern Israel.
Beaufort Ridge (Reches HaBeaufort) is one of the most tactically significant terrain features in southern Lebanon. Located approximately six kilometers from the Israeli border town of Metula, the ridge overlooks the Hula Valley and the Galilee Panhandle. Historically anchored by the Crusader-era Beaufort Castle (Qala'at ash-Shaqif), the ridge has served as a critical military stronghold for various forces over decades, including the PLO and later the IDF during its presence in the South Lebanon Security Belt. Since the IDF withdrawal in 2000, Hezbollah has systematically transformed the ridge into a fortified underground bastion.
In June 2026, the IDF Intelligence Desk and combat engineering units (Yahalom) revealed the existence of the 'Day of Judgment' network—a sophisticated subterranean complex built with Iranian planning and funding. Unlike tactical tunnels found elsewhere, this network was designed for long-term habitation and large-scale combat operations. The infrastructure included living quarters for hundreds of operatives, advanced medical facilities, kitchens, and weapons storage. Strategically, the network featured integrated launch sites for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and anti-tank missiles, positioned to target northern Israeli communities and IDF forces with minimal exposure.
The discovery highlighted Hezbollah's use of civilian areas as human shields, as the network was constructed beneath Lebanese villages. Current operations by the Golani Brigade, Maglan, and Yahalom units focus on the systematic dismantling of this infrastructure to neutralize the threat to the Galilee. The ridge remains a focal point of the northern front, representing both a historical symbol of control and a modern center of Iranian-backed terror infrastructure.