On Friday, suspected Israeli naval commandos conducted an operation in Lebanon, abducting a man near his home in the northern coastal town of Batroun. Lebanese Transport Minister Ali Hamie confirmed the incident on Saturday, stating that security agencies are actively investigating the abduction.
The kidnapped individual, identified as a captain of civilian and commercial ships and a student at a naval institute, was seized roughly 100 meters from his residence. CCTV footage shared by Lebanese media appears to show armed personnel in the area during the early hours of Friday, although Middle East Eye has yet to independently verify the footage.
Reports from sources, including Reuters and Axios, attribute the operation to Israel. An Israeli source indicated that the abducted man is allegedly a “senior member of Hezbollah’s naval force” and was taken to obtain intelligence regarding Hezbollah’s naval activities. As of now, there has been no official comment from Israel, Lebanon, or Hezbollah regarding the incident.
Since the onset of the Gaza conflict on October 8, 2023, tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated, marked by cross-border hostilities. The conflict further intensified in September, with extensive Israeli bombing campaigns across Lebanon, leading to a ground invasion in early October. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, over 2,800 people in Lebanon have lost their lives in the past year, predominantly since September. Hezbollah claims to have killed at least 90 Israeli soldiers in ground combat in southern Lebanon, while the Israeli army reports a loss of 37 soldiers.