Fighters operating in southern Lebanon have publicly accused the IDF spokesperson of lying about the identity of the soldier who killed a Hezbollah operative, according to a statement circulated Wednesday. The fighters claimed that a female soldier was not the one who carried out the elimination, contradicting the military's official account.
Fighters operating in the Bint Jbeil area have publicly accused the IDF spokesperson of lying, explicitly denying that a female soldier from the Oketz unit carried out the elimination of a Hezbollah operative. The statement, circulated Wednesday, is the latest in a series of direct challenges to the military's official account of the incident, deepening the controversy over who killed the gunman.
The IDF initially reported at 07:06 Jerusalem on Wednesday that a female Oketz soldier killed the Hezbollah operative after her military working dog was shot. Hours later, reserve soldiers from the 679th Brigade came forward, claiming they were the ones who killed and captured the operatives, as The Zioneer reported at 11:22 Jerusalem. The military acknowledged the discrepancy and announced an investigation, citing possible 'good-faith human error,' as The Zioneer reported at 11:11 Jerusalem. The latest denial from fighters in Bint Jbeil reinforces the dissonance between the IDF's narrative and the testimony of troops on the ground.
The Zioneer has previously reported that the building in Bint Jbeil was the site of a close-quarters clash last Thursday in which a reserve soldier was severely wounded. The IDF's initial account highlighted the role of the female dog handler, but reservists' accounts disputed that version, leading to the ongoing investigation.
The IDF investigation remains open, and no official conclusion has been reached. The fighters' statement does not provide new details about the identity of the soldier who fired the fatal shot, and the military has not yet responded to the latest accusation.
11 developments
- Strong679th Brigade kills, captures Hezbollah operatives in Bint Jbeil, contradicts IDF account
- DevelopingSoldiers contradict IDF account of elimination in Lebanon, ynet reports
- ConfirmedIDF soldier killed in clash with Hezbollah operative in southern Lebanon
- DevelopingIDF: Hezbollah mortars hit UNIFIL post, kill UN soldier
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