This announcement marks a significant advance of the Israeli ground offensive currently underway in southern Lebanon since the beginning of a new war between Israel and the Lebanese Islamist movement on March 2.
The Israeli army announced on Monday that it had completed the encirclement of the city of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon, where they launched an assault killing over 100 Hezbollah fighters, an ally of Tehran. “During the past week, (Israeli forces) completed the encirclement operation of the city of Bint Jbeil and launched an assault, during which they eliminated over 100 Hezbollah terrorists in close combat and by airstrikes,” said army spokesperson Colonel Avichay Adraee in Arabic.
“Dozens of infrastructures have been destroyed and hundreds of combat means have been uncovered in the area,” he added. This announcement marks a significant advance of the Israeli ground offensive currently underway in southern Lebanon since the start of a new war between Israel and the Lebanese Islamist movement.
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A city of symbolic importance
Hezbollah entered the conflict in the Middle East to avenge the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, killed on the first day of the Israeli-American offensive against Iran on February 28. Israel responded with extensive deadly airstrikes across Lebanon and the ground offensive in the south of the country. In turn, the Shiite movement reported violent clashes with the Israeli army in Bint Jbeil for several days.
This city, located about five kilometers from the border, holds symbolic importance because Hezbollah repelled Israeli troops after fierce battles during the 2006 war between the two parties. Since Thursday, Hezbollah has repeatedly claimed to have targeted Israeli forces and tanks there. The Lebanese National News Agency (Ani, official) reported “violent clashes” in the city and stated that Israeli bombings targeted the town’s entrance on Monday.
