Israeli Forces Capture Senior Hezbollah Operative Amid Ongoing Conflict in North Lebanon

Israeli naval forces have captured a senior Hezbollah operative in northern Lebanon, according to an Israeli military official. This development comes amid ongoing tensions between the Iran-backed group and Israel. Lebanese authorities are investigating whether Israel was involved in the abduction of a Lebanese sea captain by armed men near Batroun on Friday.

The Israeli military official stated, "The operative has been transferred to Israeli territory and is currently being investigated," but did not disclose the detainee's identity. This operation marks the first time Israel has announced deploying troops deep into northern Lebanon to capture a senior Hezbollah figure since the conflict escalated in late September.

Hezbollah's Response and Lebanese Investigation

Hezbollah described the incident as a "Zionist aggression in the Batroun area" but did not provide further details or confirm if a member was captured. Two Lebanese military officials confirmed that a naval force landed in Batroun, about 30 km north of Beirut, and abducted a Lebanese citizen. They did not reveal the man's identity or confirm any links to Hezbollah.

Three Lebanese judicial officials reported that the operation occurred at dawn on Friday. They are investigating whether the man has ties to Hezbollah or was working for an Israeli spy agency, with an Israeli force possibly rescuing him. These officials spoke anonymously due to restrictions on sharing details about the incident or investigation.

Reactions and Historical Context

Following Israel's announcement of the operation, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged Lebanon's foreign minister to file a complaint against Israel at the UN Security Council. Historically, Israel has conducted commando operations deep inside Lebanon targeting Hezbollah and Palestinian officials.

Residents from the apartment building where the man was seized recounted their experiences. Hussein Delbani, who lives nearby, said, "We were terrified. They were breaking into the apartment next to ours." Delbani, displaced from south Lebanon due to recent conflicts, initially thought it was a state security operation.

Details of the Abducted Captain

The man taken was identified as a captain of civilian ships by Hamie, who spoke to Al-Jadeed. He graduated in 2022 and recently joined Batroun's Maritime Sciences and Technology Institute for further courses. The captain lived approximately 300 metres from this institute.

A video shared by two Lebanese journalists showed around 20 armed men taking away a man with his face covered by his shirt. Kandice Ardiel, spokesperson for the UN peacekeeping force in south Lebanon, denied claims that peacekeepers assisted in the operation. The UN mission, known as UNIFIL, monitors the coast with its maritime force.

Ongoing Conflict and Regional Tensions

Hezbollah began launching rockets, drones, and missiles into Israel from Lebanon in support of Hamas after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. This led to war in Gaza. Cross-border fighting intensified into full-scale war on October 1 when Israeli forces invaded southern Lebanon for the first time since 2006.

The situation remains tense as both sides continue their military actions without signs of de-escalation. The international community watches closely as these developments unfold in an already volatile region.