IDF 98th Division Seizes Hezbollah-Held Bint Jbail
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- IDF 98th Division is on the verge of gaining operational control over Bint Jbail in southern Lebanon, a town long held by Hezbollah and recently tightened under its control.
- Hezbollah fired approximately 50 rockets toward Israel on Thursday, with around 40 intercepted by Israeli air defenses, according to IDF reports.
- IDF estimates several dozen Hezbollah terrorists, including Radwan Force operatives, remain in Bint Jbail as its 98th, 91st, 36th, and 146th Divisions strengthen a forward defensive posture in southern Lebanon.
- Israeli strikes killed 300 people on Thursday, according to Reuters citing Lebanese reports, following Hezbollah rocket launches and amid the IDF's ground advance.
Why it matters: The capture of Bint Jbail marks a significant tactical shift, putting the IDF in control of a key Hezbollah stronghold. With 300 reported dead in a single day of strikes and sustained rocket fire, the escalation risks widening the conflict beyond southern Lebanon.
