A Lebanese citizen has reportedly been captured in an ‘‘unprecedented’‘ naval forces operation by the Jewish state
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has reportedly taken a Lebanese citizen into custody, who they describe as a “senior Hezbollah operative,” during an ‘‘unprecedented’‘ naval raid deep within Lebanon.
The incident reportedly occurred at dawn on Friday, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Beirut, when heavily armed special forces landed on a beach in the coastal town of Batroun, seized the individual, and fled by speedboat.
Israel’s military declared in a statement that the abducted person, Imad Amhaz, was a “senior operative of Hezbollah” and allegedly responsible for the militant group’s naval operations, according to Israeli sources cited by media outlet Axios. The statement said, “He has been transferred to Israeli territory and is currently being investigated.”
The Lebanese government has confirmed the kidnapping of one of its citizens, but stated that Amhaz was a civilian naval officer who was abducted about a hundred yards from his home.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah issued a statement on Saturday calling the incident a “Zionist aggression.” The group has not confirmed any connection to the abducted individual.
This operation marks the first time Israeli forces have deployed troops this far inside northern Lebanon, in this instance some 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the countries’ border and in an area not affiliated with Hezbollah.
“An unidentified military force carried out a landing operation on the beach of Batroun, and moved … to a chalet near the beach, where it kidnapped the citizen Imad Amhaz and … left by speedboats to the open sea,” Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) said.
CCTV camera footage shared online by Lebanese reporters appears to show a large group of armed men leading away a man with his hands bound behind his back and his face covered with a shirt.
The raid has ignited widespread anger from Lebanese authorities, with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati stating that he had urged the Foreign Ministry to file a complaint against Israel at the UN Security Council.
Lebanese Transport Minister Ali Hamieh said the abduction may have violated UN Security Council resolution 1701, which ended hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006.
“If it is proven that the kidnapping took place via a naval landing, where is the implementation of Resolution 1701?” NNA quoted Hamieh as saying.
Israeli forces launched a major air campaign against Lebanon in late September and since then have been conducting ground raids into the south of the country.