Israeli Military Captures Alleged Senior Hezbollah Official in Unprecedented Northern Lebanon Raid
Hezbollah Operative Taken in Batroun Raid
In a bold operation early Saturday, Israeli commandos conducted a raid in Batroun, northern Lebanon, capturing an individual they identified as a senior Hezbollah operative, Imad Amhaz. Amhaz, reportedly responsible for Hezbollah’s naval operations, was detained and transferred to Israeli territory for interrogation by military intelligence. According to Israeli sources cited by Axios, his capture marks a significant development in Israel’s confrontation with Hezbollah.
The operation sparked strong reactions from Lebanese officials. Lebanon’s caretaker Minister of Transport, Ali Hamie, described Amhaz as a civilian boat captain, disputing any affiliation with Hezbollah. Hezbollah has yet to comment on the allegations. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, announced that Lebanon would file a complaint with the United Nations Security Council and requested that the Lebanese military and UN peacekeepers investigate the incident.
An Unprecedented Incursion
The Israeli raid marks the first known instance of Israeli forces landing deep within northern Lebanon, an area far from Hezbollah strongholds and nearly 100 miles from the Lebanon-Israel border. While Israeli troops have conducted limited ground operations in southern Lebanon since late September, these actions were confined to border-adjacent areas. Past Israeli operations targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon’s interior were generally limited to airstrikes. This unprecedented incursion signals an escalation in Israel’s tactics.
Following the raid, Israeli warplanes launched intensified airstrikes across Lebanon, including a rare daytime bombing of Beirut’s southern suburbs, reportedly killing one person and injuring 15 others. The strikes also targeted Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, an area frequently struck over the past week. The daytime attack, a departure from usual nighttime strikes, underscores the heightened level of conflict.
Hezbollah’s Retaliation and Rising Tensions
In response to Israel’s actions, Hezbollah launched rockets and drones into Israeli territory on Saturday. A rocket hit Tayibe in central Israel, injuring 19 people and further intensifying a conflict that has, over the past year, resulted in nearly 3,000 fatalities and over 13,300 injuries, with the majority occurring in the last five weeks.
The hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah reignited in October 2023, following Hezbollah’s rocket attack “in solidarity” with Hamas’s assault on Israel. While the conflict has largely impacted southern Lebanon and border areas, this latest operation signals a possible expansion into northern Lebanon.
Controversy Over UN Resolution 1701
Lebanese Minister of Transport Ali Hamie questioned the raid’s legality, suggesting it may contravene UN Resolution 1701, which governs Lebanon-Israel security dynamics following the 2006 war. Hamie questioned whether this abduction, reportedly occurring within 100 meters of Amhaz’s residence, aligns with the resolution’s mandate for preventing cross-border hostilities.
“If confirmed as a naval landing, the abduction could indicate a failure to uphold the provisions of Resolution 1701,” Hamie stated, expressing Lebanon’s concerns over this cross-border operation.
The recent developments underscore a significant escalation in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, potentially expanding military engagements across Lebanon and raising international concerns over regional stability.