Official statements or reports from Israeli, Lebanese authorities, or international bodies

Israeli Shayetet 13 Commandos Reportedly Capture Lebanese Man in Batroun

Nov 2, 2024, 12:42 PM

On Friday night, Israeli naval commandos from the elite Shayetet 13 unit reportedly conducted a raid in the coastal city of Batroun in northern Lebanon, approximately 140 kilometers north of Israel. The operation involved over 25 soldiers, including marines and divers, who landed on the Batroun coast and abducted a man identified as Imad Amhaz. Some reports suggest that Amhaz is a senior member of Hezbollah's naval forces and that he was detained for interrogation to gather intelligence on Hezbollah's naval activities. Lebanese officials, however, describe him as a civilian sea captain undergoing training at a maritime institute. The Israeli operation was reportedly coordinated with the German Navy, part of the UNIFIL mission, although this has not been confirmed. Lebanese authorities have acknowledged the incident, with the Lebanese Minister of Public Works confirming that an individual was captured and stating that the abducted person is a captain of civilian ships studying at a civilian institute.