IDF kills Hezbollah operative during search of Bint Jbeil building where reservist was wounded

The IDF said troops from the 679th Armored Brigade were searching a building in Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon, where a reservist was severely wounded in a close-quarters encounter last Thursday. A Hezbollah operative inside opened fire; the troops returned fire and killed him. No Israeli casualties were reported.

The IDF eliminated a Hezbollah operative on Wednesday morning during a follow-up search of a building in Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon, where a reservist from the 679th Armored Brigade was severely wounded in a close-quarters encounter last Thursday (July 2). Troops from the 679th Brigade identified the operative while searching the structure; he opened fire, and the soldiers returned fire, killing him. No Israeli forces were harmed, the military said.

The story unfolded rapidly this morning. At 07:06 Jerusalem, initial reports said a military working dog was killed in the firefight. The IDF later confirmed the dog was from the Oketz unit and that its handler, a female combat soldier, killed the gunman. Subsequently, the military clarified that the building was the same site as last Thursday's clash, and the full statement identified the troops as belonging to the 679th Reserve Brigade.

The incident is the latest in a series of Hezbollah ceasefire violations in the Bint Jbeil area. As The Zioneer reported on July 3, a reservist was severely wounded in a clash with a Hezbollah operative who then escaped. Other violations include a grenade attack on June 26 that wounded four soldiers, and the elimination of a Hezbollah cell on motorcycles on July 5.

It remains unclear whether the operative killed today was the same individual who wounded the reservist last Thursday. The IDF has not confirmed a connection.

7 developments

1. 1 hour ago · 07:24 · 8 JulLatest

   679th Brigade troops identified the operative while searching the specific building.

2. 07:20 · 8 Jul

   Hezbollah operative killed in close-quarters clash with IDF troops.

3. 07:19 · 8 Jul

   Oketz unit dog killed; handler eliminated the Hezbollah gunman.

• Confirmed22:42 · 30 JunIDF eliminates Hezbollah operative near troops in Al-Manzala area
• Confirmed19:40 · 28 JunIDF soldier killed in clash with Hezbollah operative in southern Lebanon
• Strong12:08 · 26 JunIDF confirms 4 soldiers wounded by Hezbollah grenade in Beit Yahoun; assailant killed
• Developing23:08 · 25 JunIDF troops engage Hezbollah cell in southern Lebanon, kill two operatives

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