Watch: Israeli Commandos Capture Hezbollah Naval Officer In Large-Scale Seaborne Raid In Lebanon

Israeli commandos carried out a daring seaborne raid in Lebanon on Friday night, arresting Imad Amhaz, a Hezbollah naval officer. The operation took place near the coastal town of Batroun, around 75 nautical miles north of Israel’s border.

The raid involved at least 20 members of Israel’s Shayetet 13 unit, which is similar to the US Navy SEALs. CCTV footage from a nearby building captured the moment heavily armed soldiers escorted Amhaz away at a fast pace.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said that Amhaz would be handed over to Military Intelligence Directorate Unit 504, which is responsible for gathering critical intelligence about Hezbollah’s naval capabilities.

Hezbollah is known for its well-resourced operations even though it lacks a conventional navy. Instead, its naval assets consist of small boats and missile systems, including shore-launched YJ-83/C-802 anti-ship cruise missiles and a limited number of Russian-built Yakhont missiles.

TERKINI

25 anggota Pasukan Khas IDF memasuki Batroun, Lubnan dan menculik seorang lelaki dipercayai Pegawai Bot Berlesen kepada Kementerian Pengangkutan dan Pekerjaan Lubnan iaitu Imad Amhaz

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— Irfan_newboys (@Marchfoward) November 2, 2024

Video Credits: Irfan_newboys/X

However, Lebanon’s Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ali Hamieh, stated that Amhaz is a civilian merchant mariner associated with a maritime academy and not a Hezbollah employee.

Despite the circulation of social media images of Amhaz in an officer’s uniform, little is known about his background.

Further worsening the situation, Lebanese media reported that a nearby German Navy vessel, part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), may have taken part in the raid. In response, UNIFIL clarified that it had no role in assisting kidnappings or violations of Lebanese sovereignty.

The IDF’s operation comes amid increasing tensions and continued efforts to limit Hezbollah’s influence, especially since the group has launched rocket attacks on Israeli settlements in late 2023.

Around 60,000 Israeli people have fled the border area near Lebanon, and Israeli authorities are working to ensure their safe return.

Reference: Euronews

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Source: Maritime Shipping News