A First of Its Kind: Why Did 'Israel' Kidnap Lebanese Citizen Imad Amahaz?

In a rare, provocative move, “Israel” kidnapped a Lebanese ship captain from Batroun, in the North Governorate of Lebanon, sparking urgent questions about a potential shift in its strategy toward targets linked to Hezbollah.

Since late September 2024, the Israeli Occupation has employed targeted assassinations against key Hezbollah figures, both political and military. 

The toll, including former leader Hassan Nasrallah, has reached over ten prominent figures in less than a month.

‘A Prominent Leader’

The Israeli army elite “Shayetet 13” unit successfully kidnapped a “top Hezbollah leader” in a precise operation, reportedly carried out without resistance, Hebrew media reported.

The Israeli Army Radio (Galei Tzahal) described the commando operation in Batroun, northern Lebanon, as a long-planned mission, noting that “Tel Aviv” tracked Imad Amhaz for an extended period, waiting for the right moment to act. The radio further indicated that the army had not intended to take responsibility for the Batroun operation and would have kept it secret had the media not reported it.

The Israeli army said the “Shayetet 13” unit captured “a Hezbollah member” with extensive maritime expertise, vowing to continue targeting high-profile Hezbollah figures wherever possible.

On the same day, Maariv cited unnamed sources claiming that “Shayetet 13” reached 200 kilometers deep into Lebanon, under the cover of Israeli ships and missiles, and left the coast via fast boats after seizing Amhaz from his home.

The raid, reportedly carried out by a force of 25 Israeli soldiers, targeted a military official within Hezbollah and a Lebanese navy officer. Maariv further alleged that Imad Amahaz, kidnapped from Lebanon in the “Batroun operation,” served as the “anchor” between Iran and Hezbollah and posed a threat to Israeli Occupation’s maritime assets.

According to the Hebrew newspaper, Amahaz, a Hezbollah's naval unit senior officer, holds significant intelligence and operational value. Maariv claimed that Amhaz had been taken for interrogation within Unit 504 of the Israeli Aman agency, specializing in intelligence across borders.

While Israeli sources asserted that the kidnapped was a Hezbollah military leader and a Lebanese naval officer, Hezbollah had not issued any confirmation or denial.

On November 2, Lebanese activists and local media circulated a video showing Israeli soldiers escorting Lebanese citizen Amhaz after his kidnap from his residence in the Batroun area.

Accusations Against UNIFIL

Following the official denial of Israeli claims that Amhaz was a navy officer, Lebanese Caretaker Minister of Public Works and Transport Ali Hamieh hinted at the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon’s (UNIFIL) potential responsibility in the Amhaz operation, given its mandate to monitor Lebanon’s shores.

In this context, Fadel Amahaz, the father of Imad, stated that his son is a civilian maritime captain enrolled in a course at the Maritime Sciences and Technology Institute in Batroun. He noted that Imad had been taking courses at this institute since 2013 and typically works on civilian vessels transporting livestock or vehicles.

“He spends most of his time at sea, has no affiliations with any political parties, and avoids politics altogether. He is married, a father of three, and supports his parents,” the father added.

Fadel Amhaz blamed the Lebanese government and German forces for failing to secure the waters, allowing his son’s kidnap. He called on the International Red Cross and UNIFIL to intervene with the captors to ensure his son’s safe return.

“UNIFIL has not been involved in facilitating any kidnapping or other violation of Lebanese sovereignty,” deputy spokesperson Kandice Ardiel said in a statement.

“Disinformation and false rumors are irresponsible and put peacekeepers at risk,” she warned.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati directed  Abdallah Rashid Bouhabib, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, to file a complaint with the UN Security Council over the Israeli Occupation’s kidnap of a Lebanese citizen.

A statement from Mikati’s office on November 2 indicated that the Prime Minister also contacted UNIFIL leadership, which confirmed it is conducting the necessary investigations into the incident and coordinating with the Lebanese army.

The first information on what happened to Amhaz came from Lebanon’s National News Agency, which reported on November 2 that security agencies had launched an investigation into an incident in Batroun, northern Lebanon.

Local residents report that an unidentified military force carried out a sea landing on Batroun’s shore. Witnesses told the agency the armed unit, fully equipped, moved to a nearby beach chalet, kidnapped a Lebanese man, then swiftly returned to the shore and departed by boat into open waters.

The Reason Behind

Regarding the Israeli Occupation’s motivation for kidnapping Amhaz, Lebanese writer Haitham Zaiter said the Israeli commando raid targeting Imad Amhaz marked a significant security development in terms of timing, implications, objectives, and risks, revealing new and dangerous security vulnerabilities.

Zaiter, in an article published on Ma’an News Agency, noted that this event was far from ordinary in the ongoing struggle against the Israeli Occupation, a struggle that intensified with the start of “clashes” with Lebanon a day after Operation al-Aqsa Flood, October 8, 2023.

In discussing the motives behind the kidnap, Zaiter said, “Mossad sought to send multiple messages, one of which was a clear intent to capture Amahaz alive rather than resort to assassination, as in previous operations targeting Hezbollah leaders, other factions, and prominent Lebanese figures.” 

“This indicates an effort to extract intelligence, particularly given Amahaz’s expertise in maritime activities.”

According to Zaiter, the Mossad also appeared to be signaling its capability to reach any location, even those more than 150 kilometers from the southern border with the occupied territories, which are currently active combat zones.

The writer added that Israeli security agencies have previously carried out commando landings by air and sea for assassination and kidnap missions both within Lebanon and beyond. 

He highlighted numerous detainees in Lebanon who confessed to being transported by inflatable boats from Lebanese shores to open waters, and then to Israeli territory for debriefing or training on new equipment.

These confessions revealed that Israeli naval units had extracted several operatives from Lebanon, including a man referred to as “George,” involved in the 2006 assassination of Islamic Jihad leader Mahmoud Majzoub and his brother Nidal in Sidon. George was reportedly returned to a specific point on the Jbeil coast, where a commando unit retrieved him, handed a suitcase and cash to Mahmoud Rafaa, and delivered explosives to other agents within Lebanon.

“How is it possible that the Lebanese Navy or UNIFIL forces, which are overseen by a German contingent, failed to detect such operations? This raises concerns about the potential for Israeli forces to carry out sea, land, or air raids in any part of Lebanon, as part of their efforts to achieve victories in this ongoing conflict,” asked Zaiter.

Unidentified security sources indicated that investigations revealed Amhaz holds a Panamanian passport, prompting Lebanese authorities to contact the Panamanian embassy for verification. Almodon reported that his commercial ship, which flies the Panamanian flag, entered various ports during his voyages.

The investigation, despite its scope, may not yield complete clarity as the exact reasons for Amahaz’s kidnap and his precise activities at sea remain unknown, the sources said.

The operation's targeted approach suggests that the Israeli Occupation's primary objective was to extract information from the detainee, initiating questioning immediately. If “Israel” had intended to eliminate him, it could have done so, prompting significant questions about the detainee's importance to Israeli interests.

Almodon also reported insights from Lebanese security sources monitoring the investigation, who offered several theories regarding the operation. The leading hypothesis suggests a potential connection between Amhaz and Hezbollah. Further speculation points to his involvement in smuggling and transporting weapons from Syria to Lebanon via the sea. If verified, this could indicate that foreign intelligence agencies provided “Israel” with detailed information about Amahaz's activities.