The Israeli military announced the capture of a high-ranking Hezbollah operative during a naval operation in the northern Lebanese town of Batroun on Friday. A military spokesperson indicated that special forces successfully detained the individual and transported them back to Israel as part of what was characterized as a “special operation.”

According to Lebanon’s state news agency, an “unidentified military force” conducted a raid at dawn on a beach, storming into a nearby building and apprehending one person before making a swift exit via speedboat. This action has incited significant backlash from Lebanese officials. Prime Minister Najib Mikati directed the foreign ministry to lodge a complaint with the UN Security Council in response to the incident.

Furthermore, both the Lebanese army and the UN peacekeeping force, Unifil, are looking into the circumstances surrounding the raid, with Mikati calling for an expedited investigation. Lebanese Transport Minister Ali Hamieh expressed concerns that the operation could have breached UN Security Council resolution 1701, which was intended to halt hostilities following the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah conflict. He questioned, “If it is confirmed that the abduction occurred through a naval landing, what does this mean for the enforcement of Resolution 1701?”

Hezbollah has yet to respond to Israel’s claims regarding the identity of the captured individual. However, local media reported Hamieh asserting that the man in question was merely a captain of civilian vessels. Footage that surfaced online purportedly shows soldiers escorting a captive between buildings in Batroun.

While details from the Israeli military remain sparse, they confirmed that Shayetet 13, their elite marine commando unit known for conducting sea-to-land operations, was involved in this mission. Batroun is primarily a Christian town situated north of Beirut and has largely remained insulated from Israeli military actions within Lebanon, which have predominantly targeted southern regions, eastern Bekaa Valley, and southern Beirut suburbs.

Since Israel initiated its ground invasion on September 30, over 2,200 individuals have died in Lebanon according to reports from Israeli military sources; during this period, they also noted that 38 soldiers have lost their lives amid escalating rocket attacks on Israel.

As diplomats return to engage with the situation in Lebanon, Prime Minister Mikati has expressed cautious optimism regarding potential ceasefire discussions. Meanwhile, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris stated he has been briefed and continues to receive ongoing updates concerning developments in the region.