IDF in control of Bint JbeilArmy forces take over area between Maroun al-Ras and Bint Jbeil, a town thought to be Hizbullah's capital ahead of continued ground operations. 'We will decide rules there, we'll end the mission – and we'll leave,' says army source.
After nearly a week of fighting, the IDF has completed its takeover of the area stretching between the village of Maroun al-Ras and the town of Bint Jbeil in the central region of southern Lebanon.
Golani, Paratroopers, and Armored Corps forces with aerial backup completed the takeover during the night hours.
"We are currently occupied with collecting evidence, bodies of Hizbullah terrorists, and various testimonies, while preparing for the next stage, Lieutenant Colonel Itzik Ronen of the Armored Corps' Division 7 said.
The battles at Maroun al-Ras and Bin Jbeil were in effect the first significant IDF ground operations of the current campaign, and they exacted a heavy toll of nine combat soldiers.During the hours of Tuesday morning, a number of fire incidents broke out between IDF forces and Hizbullah members, but no injuries were reported.
The Lieutenant Colonel said Tuesday after the takeover of the area that the new situation enables the IDF to "direct precise fire at every point that is needed (within Bint Jbeil) and to bring the forces to a situation of minimum risk. We know this operation. We can operate in the center of the village or in other places through the soldiers and our means."
The IDF is already thinking ahead and knows that forces expect stiff resistance in the coming missions too.
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