Imad Amhaz who was kidnapped from Batroun by Israel on Friday. (Photo circulating on social media platforms)
BEIRUT — Imad Amhaz, who was captured by Israeli commandos in Batroun on Friday, has been taken to Israeli territory, where he is now under investigation by Unit 504, an intelligence branch of the Israeli army, an Israeli military official told CNN on Saturday.
Members of Israel’s elite Shayetet 13 force captured Amhaz at dawn on Friday on the coast of Batroun in northern Lebanon.
The Israeli military has previously described Shayetet 13’s missions as involving “strategic sabotage activity across enemy lines, including damaging vital structures during wartime and the enemy’s seaports.”
This marks the first reported Israeli operation of its kind since the start of the war between Hezbollah and Israel on Oct. 8, 2023.
On Saturday, an investigation was launched in Lebanon into the case.
After the circumstances of the incident remained unclear throughout the day, an Israeli military official, quoted by the Army Radio, claimed that the operation had been conducted by the "13th force" which "captured a member of Hezbollah."
On Sunday morning, Amhaz' father denied accusations of his son’s ties to Hezbollah, asserting in a statement, that “Imad is a civilian maritime captain.”
"He is a civilian maritime captain and was undergoing training in Batroun at the Mersati Institute for Marine Sciences," the father stated. "This was not his first course; he has attended several courses at the same institute since 2013. He typically works on civilian ships transporting either livestock or cars, spending most of his time at sea."
The father emphasized that his son has no political affiliations. "He has no ties to any political parties and does not engage in politics. The information circulated by the media, including images of passports and phone lines, is misleading," he said. "Naturally, in each country he reaches, he buys a SIM card to stay in touch with his wife, three children and mother."
The father explained that his son uses a maritime passport for sea travel and a regular passport for return trips to Lebanon. "He uses his maritime passport to enter countries by sea, and when his contract ends on a ship, he returns to Lebanon by plane using his regular passport. He is married, a father of three, and supports his parents."
Expressing frustration with the Lebanese government and international authorities, the family called the incident a "kidnapping." "The Lebanese government and the German force responsible for maritime surveillance should bear responsibility for facilitating this kidnapping. Furthermore, where is the Lebanese Navy, which is supposed to protect the Lebanese people?" the father asked.
In light of the situation, the father appealed to international organizations, urging the International Red Cross and UNIFIL to intervene. "We call on the International Red Cross and UNIFIL forces to communicate with the captors to ensure Imad Fadel Mhanna’s safe return to his family," he concluded.
In an interview with local Lebanese channel al-Jadeed, caretaker Minister of Public Works and Transportations Ali Hamieh said that "what happened in Batroun is a blatant violation of Lebanese sovereignty". He added that, to date, "no detailed report" was submitted to him regarding the incident.
Some media outlets speculated that U.N. peacekeepers may have been involved in the abduction. However, a UNIFIL spokesperson denied the reports in a brief statement saying, "UNIFIL has not been involved in facilitating any kidnapping or other violation of Lebanese sovereignty. Disinformation and false rumors are irresponsible and put peacekeepers at risk."
