In a groundbreaking operation on Saturday morning, the Israeli military reported the abduction of a man it claims is a senior operative of Hezbollah. Israeli commandos landed on the shores of Batroun, northern Lebanon, seized the individual, and escaped by speedboat, marking the first such operation of its kind in the area.
According to an Israeli military spokesperson, the captured man, identified as Imad Amhaz, is allegedly responsible for Hezbollah’s naval operations. However, Lebanon’s caretaker minister of transport, Ali Hamie, contends that Amhaz is merely a civilian boat captain. Hezbollah has not confirmed or denied his affiliation with the group.
Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced that Lebanon would file a complaint with the United Nations Security Council, calling for an investigation by the military and the UN peacekeeping mission into the incident. The raid reportedly took place approximately 100 miles from the Lebanon-Israel border in an area not known to be associated with Hezbollah.
Lebanese news agency reports indicated that a military force executed the operation, abducting Amhaz from his residence near the beach. Surveillance footage showed a man being escorted by armed soldiers, his hands restrained.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reaffirmed their commitment to act decisively to protect Israel and its citizens. Minister Hamieh noted that the operation may violate UN resolution 1701, which was established to manage security relations between Israel and Lebanon following the 2006 war. He questioned the adherence to this resolution, given the circumstances of the abduction.
The tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated since October 8, 2023, following Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on Israel in response to Hamas’s assault. While fighting has generally avoided northern Lebanon, Israeli forces have conducted ground raids in the south and have intensified their aerial bombardment across Lebanon, including recent strikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs and the Bekaa Valley.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of 2,968 individuals and left over 13,300 injured in the past year, with the majority of casualties occurring in the last five weeks.
