This photo, taken in Upper Galilee, in northern Israel, shows an Israeli tank taking position along the border with southern Lebanon on July 22, 2026. (Credit: Jalaa Marey/AFP)
SOUTH LEBANON — The Israeli army has taken control of the medieval citadel of Doubeih, in the village of Shaqra (Nabatieh), and recently planted its flag there, our correspondent reported Thursday.
This latest came the day after Prime Minister Nawaf Salam visited Zawtar Gharbieh (Nabatieh), one of the pilot zones where the Lebanese Army is deployed, to raise a Lebanese flag. Army commander-in-chief General Rodolph Haykal is also making a tour of the same area Thursday.
According to our correspondent, the Shaqra municipality "condemned this aggression against Lebanese sovereignty and the infringement on a historical and archaeological site that forms an integral part of human heritage and should be protected as such."
"Any attack on historical heritage is an attack on national memory and a violation of international laws that guarantee the protection of cultural property during conflicts," the municipality’s statement emphasized.
The municipality called on the relevant authorities, notably the Directorate of Antiquities at the culture ministry and UNESCO, to closely monitor this aggression and take the necessary measures to safeguard the site. It also recalled having sent a message, after the previous escalation in 2024, to the culture ministry seeking to have this monument included on the national heritage list and to work towards its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
This is not the first time the Israeli army has targeted a historical monument. It already seized Beaufort Castle, on the heights of Nabatieh, a few weeks ago, threatening to destroy tunnels dug below. Recently, the culture ministry has requested that several monuments in the Jabal Amel region, in southern Lebanon, be included on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage in Danger.
Culture minister Ghassan Salameh also quickly responded on his X account: "The Israeli flag was raised today on the Doubeih citadel, just as it was previously on the castles of Shamah and Beaufort. This is a provocative aggression that must be denounced and rejected. The citadels of Jabal Amel are an integral part of Lebanon, of which we are proud. We will spare no effort to reclaim our sovereignty over these sites and ensure that the world recognizes that sovereignty."
Tours in the south
On Thursday, army commander-in-chief Haykal arrived in a convoy in the village of Zawtar Gharbieh, where the army has been deploying for several days, our correspondent reports.
This locality is one of the "pilot zones" stipulated in the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel, where the Lebanese Army is to deploy and dismantle Hezbollah’s infrastructure, a prerequisite for Israeli withdrawal under the framework agreement signed in direct negotiations between the Lebanese and Israelis in June. Lebanese Army units began deploying there Tuesday morning. The same day, the Lebanese Army said Israeli soldiers fired near its troops as they began their mission under the agreement.
Also Thursday, a delegation of the Lebanese Forces toured Marjayoun and Hasbaya. Participating were MPs Georges Okaiss, Pierre Abou Assi and Nazih Matta, "at the request of party leader Samir Geagea."
Syrian worker wounded
Meanwhile, Israeli attacks continued during the night from Wednesday to Thursday and into the morning. According to our correspondent, after 6:30 a.m., Israeli artillery fire targeted Beit Yahoun and Baraachit (Bint Jbeil). Around 10 p.m., the Israeli army raked the area around Khiam (Marjayoun) with medium machine guns, the Roueissat al-Alam site towards Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya), and Mansouri (Sour).
After 11:30 p.m., Israeli artillery hit the heights of Ali Taher hill (Nabatieh), and bombardments targeted areas between Nabatieh Fawqa and Kfar Tibnit, and between Mayfadoun and Nabatieh Fawqa, for over an hour. Around the same time, flares were fired over Zawtar Sharqieh (Nabatieh), and an Israeli drone dropped six noise bombs over Majdal Zoun (Sour).
Moreover, a Syrian worker was shot by Israeli gunfire in Ibl al-Saqi (Marjayoun), requiring hospitalization. Another farm worker died from his wounds after being hit by a shell in his car, around 5:30 a.m., on the Kfar Roummane road, Nabatieh.
At dawn as well, the Israeli army carried out demolitions in Haddatha (Bint Jbeil) and set fire to houses in Qsair (Marjayoun), as well as in Kfar Tibnit (Nabatieh).
Reporting contributed by our correspondent, Muntasser Abdallah.
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