Arab media reported an exceptional night operation by Israeli special forces in northern Lebanon, but conflicting versions circulated about the identity of the person arrested during this amphibious raid in Al-Batroun. An Israeli military source confirmed Saturday evening that a “senior operational leader” of Hezbollah was captured during a special operation carried out by the elite naval force Shayetet 13 in the Lebanese town of Batroun. The man, described as “an expert in his field”, was transferred to Israeli territory where he is currently being questioned by military intelligence unit 504. “The Israeli military will continue to act wherever necessary to protect the State of Israel and its citizens,” the statement said. According to some sources, it was Imad Fadel Amhaz, a senior Hezbollah official. However, the Lebanese channel Al-Mayadeen, citing a Lebanese security source, claimed that the captured man would be the captain of a civilian ship.
The operation, carried out by around thirty Israeli commandos arriving and departing by sea, was partially filmed by surveillance cameras.
This action comes as the Israeli army announced that it had eliminated two Hezbollah commanders in the Tire region: Moussa Ezz al-Din, head of the coastal sector, and Hassan Majed Dhiab, head of the sector's artillery, who allegedly orchestrated last Thursday's rocket attacks on the Krayot.
