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Lebanese sources say the man was abducted on the northern coast following an Israeli airstrike

Posted on by Gerres
Lebanese sources say the man was abducted on the northern coast following an Israeli airstrike

Israeli naval commandos captured a trainee sailor whom a military official described as a “senior agent.” Hezbollah in a raid in Lebanon and brought him to Israel for questioning.

Prime Minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit a complaint to UN Security Council in connection with the raid on the coastal city of Batroun, his office said on Saturday.

She identified the detained person as Imad Amhaz.

The Lebanese Army and the UN keeping the peace UNIFIL forces are investigating the raid, Mikati’s office said, adding that he called for “expedited” results.

First announced by Lebanese sources before an Israeli military official confirmed military involvement, the raid was the first of its kind since the Israel-Hezbollah war broke out in September.

“A senior Hezbollah official who is an expert in his field has been detained,” an Israeli military official said. “The agent was transferred to Israeli territory and is currently under investigation.”

What do we know so far about the captured Lebanese seaman trainee?

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Lebanese state agency National News reported that “unidentified military forces” carried out a “sea landing” on the shores of Batroun, south of Lebanon. Tripolion Friday at dawn.

The armed forces “went with all their weapons and equipment to a cottage near the beach, kidnapping the Lebanese man… and taking them away by speedboat to the open sea.”

A friend of the abductee identified him as a student at the state-owned Maritime Science and Technology Institute (MARSATI) in Batroun, Lebanon’s main maritime industry training university.

He was taken from a dormitory near the institute but was a resident of the Shiite-majority town of Qmatiyeh further south, said the friend, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for security reasons.

He completed sea captain courses, a source told AFP, adding that the man was about 30 years old and was well known to the institute’s employees.

Read moreLebanon accuses Israel of rejecting ceasefire following Beirut attacks

Journalist supporting Hezbollah Hassan Illaik said in a post on X that a large group of Israeli soldiers landed at the resort and captured the man before leaving in speedboats.

He shared CCTV footage showing soldiers walking down the street, two of them holding a person.

Lebanese Transport Minister Ali Hamiye, who represents Hezbollah in the Lebanese government, said the video was accurate but gave no further details.

The Christian-populated city of Batroun was relatively protected from the war between Israel and Hezbollah that hit southern Lebanon, the southern suburbs Beirut and the eastern Bekaa valley.

More than 1,900 people have died in Lebanon in the war since September 23, according to AFP health ministry data, although the real number is likely higher due to data gaps.

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AFP)