IDF Investigates Conflicting Accounts Over Militant Killing in Bint Jbeil Operation

During an operational search in Bint Jbeil on Tuesday, an IDF combat dog from the Oketz Unit was killed while pursuing a militant who had seriously wounded a reservist soldier the previous Thursday. The search was conducted by the 679th Reserve Brigade of the Yiftach Division at the site of the earlier encounter. During the operation, a militant inside the building opened fire, surprising the troops and sparking a dispute over who killed the militant.

The IDF spokesperson initially stated that a female soldier from the Oketz Unit neutralized the militant. However, soldiers from the brigade told ynet that the situation was different. They said the forces, including Oketz Unit soldiers, were positioned around the compound when fire was opened on them, killing the dog. The female Oketz soldier fired two shots toward the source of the fire, after which the unit withdrew and brigade soldiers entered the building to continue the operation.

About an hour later, while searches were ongoing and after the Oketz dogs and soldiers had left, the troops identified a militant who surrendered and was taken alive for interrogation. Later, according to the soldiers’ account, a commander and a soldier from the brigade encountered another militant equipped with a vest and weapons; they fired and killed him.

The IDF stated it is investigating all details of the incident, including how the militant was killed. The military promised transparency and said any mistakes found would be considered unintentional errors made in good faith.