Bint Jbeil: An Epic Battle

• CrossFireArabia
• April 16, 2026

The southern Lebanese city of Bint Jbeil has become a direct battleground between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters with the later employing new attrition tactics and reflecting a shift in the nature of ground operations and which signals a protracted and costly battle for both sides.

For a week now, clashes have continued in the town at “point-to-point range” fighting. The Israeli army is attempting to advance into the town, while Hezbollah fighters repelling them through ambushes and direct targeting.

Hezbollah fighters are focusing on disrupting the supply lines of the advancing soldiers and targeting their movements within the neighborhoods, particularly around the municipal stadium and the Al-Baraka district according to the official Lebanese National News Agency. This fighting style relies on hit-and-run tactics rather than traditional entrenchment.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Channel 12 has revealed an army plan to establish 15 permanent military bases in Lebanese border villages, reflecting a trend towards establishing a long-term on the ground presence, as the Israeli army has received instructions to intensify its operations and achieve maximum gains.

Between Israel’s pursuit of a swift military victory and Hezbollah’s reliance on attrition strategies, the battle of Bint Jbeil appears poised to become a pivotal point to the confrontation, as everyone awaits the outcome of parallel diplomatic efforts led by Washington to reach a ceasefire agreement.

Geographical and Symbolic Political Significance

Retired-Brigadier General Naji Malaeb, a military expert, told Anadolu Agency the city is vitally important to Israel asides from its military dimension, speaking of a moral dimension to do with a “deterrence equation” following the withdrawal of Lebanese army forces from southern Lebanon.

He explained Bint Jbeil lies within an area that Israel seeks to transform into an 8-kilometer-deep buffer zone, making its control a central objective in any future ground operation.

The retired-Brigadier noted Israeli forces attempted to encircle the city from several directions before storming it, but they encountered fierce resistance that hindered their advance, transforming the battle into an open confrontation within the city’s neighborhoods.

Bint Jbeil, located just 3 kilometers from the border with Israel, is one of the most prominent cities in southern Lebanon, not only for its geographical location but also for its political and military symbolism since the 2006 war.

Its sits at an altitude of approximately 770 meters above sea level and is about 122 kilometers from Beirut, holding strategic importance due to its position in the central section of the Lebanese-Israeli border within the Nabatieh Governorate.

Following Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, the former Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, delivered a speech in a stadium in Bint Jbeil, stating that “Israel, despite possessing nuclear weapons and the strongest air force in the region, is weaker than a spider’s web.” This underscores the symbolic significance of the area.

Israeli media outlets rebroadcast the speech after the Israeli army besieged Bint Jbeil and launched its attacks while publishing images showing Israel bombing the stadium where Nasrallah delivered his speech.

Shift in Combat Tactics

In his analysis of field operations, the military expert noted that Hezbollah developed a significant shift in its combat strategy with its fighters no longer relying on fixed defensive lines as in previous confrontations, but instead adopted a “flexible defense” model.

Malaeb explained the new approach focuses on attrition tactics rather than completely preventing the advance of attacking forces through mobile ambushes, targeted strikes on supply lines, and redeployment within villages.

The military expert believes this approach explains the continued fighting in areas Israel has declared under its control, such as the town of Khiam, where clashes persist today.

He also pointed out that the presence of civilians in some areas, despite the bombardment, reflects the continued partial control of local forces within those regions.

Israeli Response and the Limits of Power

In contrast, expert Malaeb, observed that Israel relies heavily on its air power, escalating its airstrikes on civilian areas, adding the strikes tend to be more about exerting pressure on the ground than having direct military objectives.

This is whilst warning this pattern could lead to further escalation, especially given the rising number of casualties, placing Lebanon in a complex humanitarian and security situation.

In previous statements to Anadolu Agency, a security source explained Israeli army forces were observed in the towns of Naqoura, Bayada, Qouzah, Beit Leef, Yaroun, Adaysseh, Qantara, Mays al-Jabal, and Deir Siryan al-Khiam, in addition to other southern villages.

On Wednesday, 13 people were killed and at least six others were wounded in 24 Israeli airstrikes targeting several areas in southern Lebanon.

Since March 2, the Israeli army has continued its intense attacks on Lebanon, resulting, as of Wednesday, in 2,167 deaths and 7,061 injuries.

Operational Hub

Retired Brigadier General Hisham Jaber, a strategic affairs researcher, spoke to Anadolu Agency about the operational significance of Bint Jbeil, which he described as an “operational hub” encompassing key roads connecting several battlefronts in the south. He explained that the city forms a link between the town of Khiam, the Western Bekaa Valley, and the central sector, making its control essential for any Israeli advance towards the Litani River.

He emphasized that bypassing Bint Jbeil without capturing is “militarily impossible,” given the threat it poses to any advancing forces.

Open-Ended War of Attrition

Jaber predicted that Bint Jbeil would become a protracted war of attrition. He pointed out that the nature of urban warfare, especially in cities with widespread destruction, enhances the effectiveness of guerrilla warfare for the defenders, allowing them to carry out ambushes and engage at very close range, thus increasing the losses of the attacking forces.

He added that the fighters are prepared to wage long-term battles, even under siege, drawing on previous experience in this type of combat.

In assessing the progress of the operations, Jaber noted that the Israeli advance “remains slow, despite the mobilization of a large force estimated at tens of thousands of soldiers.”

He said that the Israeli forces have advanced only a few kilometers in recent weeks and the slow pace of operations reflects the “difficulty of achieving a rapid breakthrough given the terrain and the adopted combat tactics.”

This slowness “contradicts what is expected from conventional operations, where reaching the Litani River was supposed to take a much shorter time.”

The Battlefield and Politics

Amid this backdrop, military operations intersect with rapidly evolving political moves. Last Tuesday, Washington hosted talks between Lebanon and Israel for the first time in 43 years. At the conclusion of these talks, the two sides agreed to begin peace negotiations, the location and timing of which will be determined later.

On Wednesday evening, the Israeli Security Cabinet convened to discuss a US request for a ceasefire with Hezbollah.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that the Cabinet is currently discussing the US ceasefire request, and several ministers have expressed their opposition to it.

The corporation quoted an unnamed Israeli source as saying “advanced negotiations are underway for a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah,” at the request of the United States.

The source added “a ceasefire is likely to take effect in the coming days.”

He further stated Israel “does not reject the US request for a temporary ceasefire, in exchange for a commitment to resume fighting if no agreement is reached with Iran, and on the condition that Hezbollah ceases fire.”

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah, which has been attacking Israeli targets with rockets and drones in response to Tel Aviv’s continued attacks.

NRC: ‘Gaza Ceasefire in Name Only’

• CrossFireArabia
• April 11, 2026

Statement by Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), on six months of ceasefire in Gaza

“Six months into the ceasefire, civilians in Gaza remain trapped amid attacks on civilians, restricted aid, and an uncertain political process that is now shaping whether recovery will begin or collapse. While the ceasefire has formally held, Israeli strikes have continued to kill and injure civilians, destroy homes, and erode any sense of safety.

“Humanitarian access remains severely constrained. Aid deliveries continue to fall far below agreed levels, with far too few trucks entering to meet basic needs. At the same time, the entry of goods and the restoration of infrastructure are not treated as operational questions, but increasingly tied to political negotiations over Gaza’s future.

“Ongoing talks led by the Board of Peace have introduced new conditions that link reconstruction, the lifting of restrictions, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the disarmament of Hamas. Failure of these negotiations could trigger renewed large-scale hostilities. Civilians are already paying the price of this uncertainty.

“Our teams continue to operate under extreme conditions, reaching close to one million people with shelter, legal assistance, water, and other essential services. Yet the situation on the ground is deteriorating. Families remain in makeshift shelters, exposed to hazards, with limited access to basic goods and rising prices driven by restricted supply.

“A ceasefire must be more than a reduction in violence. It must ensure sustained humanitarian access, enable immediate reconstruction, and protect humanitarian actors from administrative or legal barriers that undermine our work. Civilian recovery cannot remain conditional on political or military outcomes.

“The people of Gaza and Israel need more than a fragile pause. They need a credible path to safety, dignity, and recovery.”

Notes

• Photos from Gaza can be downloaded for free use here.
• Despite the ceasefire, which went into effect on 10 October 2025, Israeli strikes have continued in Gaza, with 713 people reported killed and 1,940 injured (OCHA).
• Israeli forces have continued to raze areas inside the so-called yellow line, while attacks have also occurred in areas from which forces had withdrawn (OHCHR).
• Over the past six months, the Norwegian Refugee Council has supported 920,276 people in Gaza through water and sanitation, shelter, legal, protection, education, food and cash services.

Norweigan Refugee Council

Israel’s Mass Lebanese Massacre Must be Investigated – Euro NGO

• CrossFireArabia
• April 9, 2026

Editor’s Note: The final death toll of the mass Israeli massacre stands at 303 people killed and 1,150 injured as per the Lebanese Health Ministry, Thursday

The large-scale Israeli attack on Lebanon, which caused heavy civilian casualties and extensive damage to civilian objects, warrants investigation for war crimes and crimes against humanity, given their apparently indiscriminate or disproportionate nature and indications of a systematic attack on the civilian population.

Preliminary field data on Israel’s intensive airstrikes on Beirut and other areas on Wednesday, 8 April, indicate that more than 1,300 people were killed or injured, with dozens still trapped or missing under the rubble. The attacks reflect a pattern of using highly destructive, indiscriminate force in densely populated civilian areas, in violation of international humanitarian law.

Israeli airstrikes hit densely populated residential areas in Beirut and its southern suburbs, as well as parts of the Beqaa Valley and southern Lebanon, killing and injuring civilians in their homes and other civilian settings. The attacks caused widespread destruction of residential buildings and civilian infrastructure. Civilian gatherings and social events were also struck, indicating indiscriminate and excessive use of force in violation of the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution.

This escalation came shortly after the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, suggesting a pre-emptive attempt to derail meaningful de-escalation and impose facts on the ground through force. It also undermines political and diplomatic efforts and increases the risk of wider escalation and violence in the region.

The Israeli attacks may give rise to criminal responsibility for war crimes, given the strikes on densely populated residential areas and civilian gatherings, the high number of civilian casualties, and the extensive damage to civilian objects and infrastructure.

Moreover, the use of highly destructive weapons in densely populated civilian areas, combined with the apparent failure to distinguish effectively between military targets and civilians, the inability to limit the attacks’ effects as required by international humanitarian law, and civilian harm that appears excessive in relation to any anticipated direct military advantage, provides serious grounds to conclude that direct attacks on civilians or indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks may have occurred. It also suggests a failure to take required precautions in attacks. These acts may constitute grave breaches of international humanitarian law and war crimes, warranting investigation and accountability.

The recent Israeli attacks must be viewed in their broader context as part of an ongoing pattern of strikes on civilian areas that have caused death, injury, destruction, and forced displacement, placing Lebanon’s civilian population under coercive conditions that threaten their lives, safety, and stability.

The scale and repetition of these attacks across a wide geographic area, including strikes on infrastructure and hospitals, the killing of journalists and medical personnel, and the use of white phosphorus, indicate that these are not isolated incidents but may form part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against civilians. Accordingly, these practices, including killing, forced displacement, and other inhumane acts, warrant investigation as crimes against humanity.

The continued commission of such attacks without accountability entrenches a long-standing pattern in the international response to Israeli violations, marked by the absence of effective deterrence despite the gravity and scale of harm to civilians. This fuels impunity and encourages further violations by keeping political and legal costs low. It also weakens international protection frameworks, threatens world peace and security, and underscores the need for urgent, decisive action to halt the attacks, ensure effective civilian protection, and hold those responsible accountable.

The international community must act immediately and effectively to stop Israeli military attacks that target civilians or expose them to grave danger, and adopt concrete, practical measures to protect civilians and civilian objects, rather than limiting its response to political condemnations or calls for de-escalation.

Independent, impartial, and effective international investigations are needed into all alleged Israeli violations, including attacks on residential areas, civilian gatherings, and civilian infrastructure, to establish individual responsibility and ensure accountability for anyone who ordered, carried out, facilitated, or concealed these crimes, and to prevent impunity.

It is essential to adopt tangible punitive measures against Israeli officials implicated in serious violations, including targeted diplomatic and economic sanctions, asset freezes, and travel bans, and to halt any cooperation or support that could directly or indirectly enable these violations or provide political or practical cover for them.

Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor calls for an immediate halt to the export and transfer of weapons, ammunition, and military equipment to Israel, where there is a clear indication they may be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law or other international crimes against civilians. Continuing to supply such materiel, or to engage militarily, despite a documented record of violations, increases the legal exposure of the states concerned and risks making them complicit in facilitating or sustaining these crimes.

Additionally, Euro-Med Monitor stresses the need to activate all available international and national accountability mechanisms, including supporting domestic jurisdiction over international crimes and backing investigations and prosecutions before relevant courts and mechanisms, to ensure accountability for all those responsible for these violations.

Unimpeded access must be ensured for rescue teams and humanitarian and medical aid to affected areas, along with the protection of health and humanitarian workers. Necessary measures should also be taken to evacuate the wounded and recover those trapped or missing under the rubble. Euro-Med Monitor urges the establishment of international mechanisms to monitor violations, document them, and preserve evidence in line with international standards, thereby safeguarding victims’ rights and supporting future justice processes.

Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor