Full Breakdown
Israeli Ground Offensive in Southern Lebanon: Bint Jbeil, Beaufort Ridge and the Fight Against Hezbollah
7/16/2026, 12:17:30 AM
Core Event
In February 2026, Israel launched a renewed ground offensive into southern Lebanon, advancing beyond the four-kilometre buffer established in February 2025. The operation, dubbed Operation Roaring Lion, targeted Hezbollah’s “Radwan” elite force, underground tunnel networks beneath the Beaufort Ridge, and the town of Bint Jbeil—long regarded as a symbolic Hezbollah stronghold. Israeli troops entered Bint Jbeil after a 10-kilometre march, encircling the town from the west while the Givati Brigade advanced from the east.
Background & Context
The fighting follows a November 2024 UN-mandated ceasefire that ended the 2024-25 border clashes without meeting Israeli security demands. Hezbollah’s renewed attacks in March 2025, launched in support of Iran after the United States and Israel began strikes against Tehran, prompted Israel to expand its “security zone” to push anti-tank guided missiles and rockets out of range of Israeli border communities.
Key Figures & Groups
- Lt. Col. S., reserve deputy commander, 401st Armored Brigade – described the discovery of a Kornet missile inside a civilian villa near Avivim.
- Lt. Col. R., commander, Paratroopers Brigade 101st Battalion – led the Bint Jbeil assault.
- Brig. Gen. Yiftah Norkin, commander, 36th Division – oversaw the capture of Beaufort Castle.
- Yahalom engineering officer, elite combat-engineer unit – explained the purpose of the newly uncovered tunnels.
- Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, an elite unit estimated at roughly 1,200 fighters.
Timeline
- 1990s-2000 – Israeli presence in Bint Jbeil; 2000 withdrawal.
- July 12 2006 – Second Lebanon War begins.
- February 2025 – IDF withdraws to five agreed buffer positions.
- February 2026 – Operation Roaring Lion commences.
- May 31 2026 – IDF recaptures Beaufort Castle.
- July 15 2026 – IDF tours Bint Jbeil stadium and Beaufort tunnels.
Data & Statistics
- IDF estimates 40 % of Bint Jbeil demolished, projected to reach 70 %.
- The Jerusalem Post reported 44 % of terror infrastructure destroyed, with 1,500 items eliminated.
- The 91st Division claims 350 Hezbollah fighters neutralized (200-250 killed, ~100 escaped).
- Approximately 1,200 Radwan fighters were ordered southward.
- Beaufort Ridge tunnels span 1.3 km, contain “unique and highly valuable” Iranian weapons and a fully equipped medical operating room.
Why It Matters
Israel says the offensive pushes Hezbollah’s anti-tank cells more than eight kilometres from the border, reducing the threat to northern Israeli towns such as Avivim, Yiron and Safed. The operation also seeks to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing a conventional front capable of launching large-scale rocket barrages.
Official Statements & Responses
The IDF described the campaign as aimed at “striking Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure, eliminating operatives, seizing areas necessary for Israel’s security, and disrupting the group’s operational capabilities.” U.S. President Donald Trump urged Israel to withdraw from Lebanon and Syria, prompting Israeli-U.S. coordination on limited handovers of territory to the Lebanese Armed Forces. Israeli commanders emphasized flexibility in reserve service and the moral imperative of protecting border communities.
Criticism & Opposition
Israeli reservists expressed concern over “unequal military service,” noting that “the fact that an entire sector does not share the burden bothers me and hurts me.” The debate highlights domestic tension over the prolonged reserve duty required for the Lebanon campaign.
On-the-Ground Reports
Soldiers reported finding a Kornet anti-tank missile inside a civilian home, assault and hunting rifles, and extensive tunnel complexes with living quarters, showers, kitchens and a sterile operating room. Lt. Col. R. said “there are still individuals” fighting in the town’s remnants.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the extent of destruction in Bint Jbeil (40 % vs 44 % destroyed) and on Hezbollah casualty figures (350 total vs 200-250 killed). Precise numbers of remaining tunnel fighters are also unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We found it before dawn inside a civilian home, aimed toward Israel,” — Lt. Col. S., IDF 401st Armored Brigade
- “There is a tendency to think that when an entire division advances in force, surprise is impossible,” — Lt. Col. R., Paratroopers Brigade 101st Battalion
- “critical to the defense of the Galilee Panhandle, Metula, and the surrounding communities.” — Brig. Gen. Yiftah Norkin, 36th Division
- “The tunnels were intended for two purposes: first, to fire directly toward Israel.” — Yahalom engineering officer
- “I do not care whether Hezbollah wants to attack us today. I want to know whether it can, and I want us to make sure it cannot.” — Lt. Col. S., IDF
What’s Next
The IDF aims to reduce remaining terror infrastructure in southern Lebanon to 70 % or less, with a long-term goal of 100 % elimination. Israeli forces continue to build new positions around Bint Jbeil and Beaufort Ridge while monitoring Hezbollah’s attempts to rebuild underground networks.
