By This is the moment Israeli soldiers captured a top Hezbollah terror commander and escaped from Lebanon in speedboats, in a daring raid carried out by IDF naval commandos.
Imad Amhaz was considered by the IDF to be a “significant source of knowledge” in Hezbollah’s naval force. Black and white CCTV footage released by the Israeli military showed around a dozen special forces soldiers, equipped with night vision goggles, oxygen tanks and rifles, escorting Amhaz through a parking lot before whisking him away.
The raid took place some 140km (87 miles) north of Israel’s border with Lebanon, in the coastal town of Batroun, south of Tripoli. Lebanese media reported that the special forces arrived from the sea and raided a chalet, capturing Amhaz before departing in speedboats.
Some Lebanese officials claimed Amhaz was merely a captain of civilian ships, but the IDF stated that he was a top Hezbollah commander. The daring operation represents a significant intelligence coup for Israel, as they were able to apprehend a senior figure within the Lebanese militant group’s naval wing.
The raid comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, with the IDF also announcing it had killed a commander of the group’s rocket unit in southern Lebanon. Iran, Hezbollah’s main backer, has vowed a “crushing response” to the recent Israeli strikes on its interests.
The capture of Imad Amhaz demonstrates Israel’s continued efforts to disrupt and degrade Hezbollah’s military capabilities, even striking deep inside Lebanese territory. It signals the Israeli military’s resolve to aggressively target the group’s leadership and infrastructure, despite the risks involved in such cross-border operations.
This bold commando raid will be seen as a major blow to Hezbollah, highlighting Israel’s ability to penetrate the group’s strongholds and apprehend key figures. The incident is likely to further escalate the tense standoff between the bitter regional rivals as they jockey for advantage in the volatile Middle East.
