Twenty Years Later: How the IDF Took Control of a Hezbollah Stronghold in Bint Jbeil

IDF forces in Bint Jbeil (Photo: IDF Spokesperson)

Twenty years after the outbreak of the Second Lebanon War, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit on Wednesday released a summary of the forces' activity in Bint Jbeil — a town long identified as a central Hezbollah stronghold. According to the IDF, this is an area from which hundreds of attacks on Israeli security forces and civilians have been planned and carried out over the years, and where troops are still operating today to remove the threats that remain.

According to the statement, during Operation "Roar of the Lion" forces from the 98th Division and the 91st Division completed a joint encirclement of Bint Jbeil and Aita al-Shaab. As part of the operation, troops from the 98th Division entered Bint Jbeil and, within roughly a week, established operational control of the area.

The forces focused on dismantling terror infrastructure, neutralising anti-tank missile threats and killing operatives. Once the mission was completed, the 98th Division concluded its activity in the sector and was redeployed to other fronts.

Forces from the 91st Division then moved in, tasked with consolidating and deepening the operational hold on the ground. The IDF said these troops remain in the area, working to complete the destruction of the terror infrastructure that is still in place and to clear the sector in order to remove any threat to the State of Israel.

According to IDF figures, since operations in the area began, forces from the 91st and 98th Divisions have destroyed more than 1,500 pieces of terror infrastructure and killed more than 500 operatives. Hundreds of weapons concealed within civilian infrastructure have also been uncovered, along with hundreds of additional terror sites. Among the sites located and destroyed were Hezbollah command posts, rocket launchers and weapons depots.

כוחות צה״ל בלבנון (צילום: דובר צה״ל)

כוחות צה״ל בלבנון (צילום: דובר צה״ל)