Israeli forces kidnap, detain alleged Hezbollah operative in Lebanon

In a significant development, Israeli naval commandos carried out an early morning raid on Friday in the northern Lebanese coastal town of Batroun, apprehending a man identified as Imad Fadel Amhaz, also known as Imad Amhaz.

The operation, described by Israel as a “special operation,” has been confirmed by both Israeli and Lebanese sources. It marks an unprecedented deep incursion into Lebanese territory during ongoing hostilities.

An Israeli security source confirmed to the GLZRadio, saying: “In a commando operation by the Shayetet 13, a senior member of Hezbollah’s naval formation was captured.”

The captured individual reportedly transferred to Israeli territory and is being investigated by Israeli Unit 504, the military official said to the Israeli media outlets.

Details of Israeli raid in Batroun

The Israeli military stated that the operation involved elite Shayetet 13 commandos, known for their specialized sea-to-land missions.

An Israeli military spokesperson indicated that Amhaz, whom Israel described as a senior operative in Hezbollah’s naval operations, was taken into Israeli custody for interrogation by Unit 504, an intelligence unit of the Israeli army. “The IDF will continue to act wherever necessary to protect the state of Israel and its citizens,” the official added.

Eyewitnesses recounted the dramatic scene that unfolded at dawn. Residents of the building where Amhaz was reportedly taken said they were awakened by the sound of voices and movement. Hussein Delbani, who lives nearby, stated, “I heard a voice outside my door shouting ‘state security’ in Arabic. I went to my balcony and saw soldiers. I didn’t see their faces, just their shadows. There were about 10 of them.”

Lebanese government and public reaction

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati swiftly responded to the incident, urging an investigation and calling on Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib to file an urgent complaint with the UN Security Council. In a statement, Mikati’s office said, “The abduction of a Lebanese citizen from Batroun is a violation that warrants immediate attention and action.”

Transport Minister Ali Hamieh, confirmed that Amhaz was a civilian ship captain and raised concerns about the legality of the operation. “The kidnapping of Amhaz took place 100 meters from his place of residence. If it is proven that the kidnapping took place via a naval landing, where is the implementation of Resolution 1701?”

“The security services are working to determine the details of the kidnapping in Batroun and the Lebanese coast is monitored by UNIFIL,” he told LBCI.

The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported, “An unidentified military force carried out a landing operation on the Batroun beach and moved with all their weapons and equipment to a chalet near the beach, where they kidnapped the citizen Imad Amhaz and took him to the open sea on speedboats.”

CCTV footage and investigation

Surveillance footage obtained from Batroun, confirmed as authentic by multiple sources, appears to show a group of armed personnel leading an individual with their hands restrained behind their back and their face covered. Lebanese authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, consulting with the Lebanese Armed Forces and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel denied any involvement by the peacekeeping force in the operation, addressing rumors circulating in local media. “Disinformation and false rumors are irresponsible and put peacekeepers at risk,” Ardiel stated.

On November 1, Imad Amhz, a senior operative of Hezbollah’s naval unit, was detained by the IDF’s Shayetet-13 special operations force. He was captured during a commando raid in Batroun, about 40 kilometers north of Beirut. Such an operation is only done when it is in pursuit of someone with highly valuable intelligence and operational significance.

It is estimated that his arrest will disrupt the Hezbollah naval unit’s activities and shed additional light on its activities. The naval unit can threaten the activities of Israeli vessels and those related to Israel.

The threat can be through the firing of coastal missiles, unmanned explosive boats, or the use of commando forces, unmanned submarines, and the activation of various underwater weapons (torpedoes/mines/unmanned submarines and the like).

Also, it is possible that the naval unit is involved (due to its specialization) in the activity of smuggling weapons through the sea route of the Iranian weapons corridor.

Israeli Alma Research & Education Center

Escalating tensions in Lebanon

The operation represents an escalation in the already tense situation between Israel and Hezbollah. While Israeli ground raids and aerial operations have typically been confined to southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, Batroun, a Christian-majority town north of Beirut, has largely been outside the scope of Israeli military actions.

The raid indicates a strategic shift in Israel’s approach, extending operations further north than previously acknowledged.