Israeli Army spokespeople said six Hezbollah fighters were eliminated in a firefight Bint Jbeil on Friday, over a week since Israel said it had encircled the town on April 13, and just a day after a Lebanon-Israel ceasefire was extended by three weeks.
Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, the Israeli army continues to hold a forward defense buffer of 5-10 km and conduct preemptive operations against targets that pose an immediate threat to Israeli territory or forces. Bint Jbeil is the largest settlement south of Israel’s so-called ‘yellow-line’, and reports suggest that insurgency is still active in the town.
Bint Jbeil
Six hezbollah fighters were killed in a firefight with the Paratroop Brigade of the IDF’s Division 98, one of five Israeli divisions operating in southern Lebanon. “Immediately after their identification,” Israeli army spokespeople said, “an exchange of fire began between the militants and the forces, during which the troops killed two militants by gunfire… [with] four additional militants who remained eliminated” in a strike soon after, adding that Israeli forces sustained no casualties.
Israeli spokespeople described the Hezbollah prescense as a “blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement” which forbids any militants from entering into the area. The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported that violent clashes had broken out in the town but made no mention of casualties.
Fighting has been ongoing in Bint Jbeil for the past week with known engagements on April 15, 18, and the evening of 21-22. The Radwan Force fighter who surrendered himself to Israeli forces on April 21, was also linked to fighting in the town according to reporting by This is Beirut, though the dates of his fighting there are unclear.
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