The Israeli operation to abduct Imad Amhaz in Batroun at dawn on Friday continues to dominate headlines. Regardless of the operation's finer details or the true role of this naval personnel, the incident signifies a new phase in the war that has been unfolding since Oct. 8, 2023. Speculation about Israel’s reach within Lebanon has shifted from whispered caution to undeniable reality. Whether the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Maritime Task Force was complicit, or if the Lebanese Army fulfilled its duties — or could have done more — are mere details in light of the operation's magnitude.
Indeed, with this attack, the Israeli army displayed great audacity. The focus is no longer on attacking towns in southern Lebanon and Hezbollah fighters, nor on their supposedly strategic depths in the Bekaa. This time, the Israelis have, once again, struck at the heart of Christian regions in an area supposedly under Lebanese Army control and the remnants of state authority.
The speed and precision of the operation not only demonstrate the great professionalism of the Israeli naval forces and the commando that abducted the Lebanese naval personnel, but also show great knowledge of the Lebanese terrain, the area and even the neighbors’ behavior. According to both Lebanese military sources and Israeli sources, the operation did not last more than four minutes with no violent incidents recorded, neither by the attackers nor by the victim, as captured by a lone security camera.
Of course, the many secrets of this operation have not yet been revealed, but regardless of the final version, one thing is clear: When they decide to do so, the Israelis can attack any area they like in Lebanon. No place is therefore safe from their military or security capabilities. More importantly, they have proved their superiority in the sea, as they have on land and in the sky.
Now, Lebanon seems to be subjected to a land, air and sea blockade, just as Israel had threatened. Though Beirut’s international airport remains operational, it exists under the perpetual threat of Israeli targeting, under the pretext of restricting Hezbollah’s supply routes from Iran to Beirut. This tension surfaced recently when Iranian officials, including the Parliament Speaker and Foreign Affairs Minister, arrived in Beirut via the airport.
In other words, the Israeli threat is very real, and the Lebanese authorities are regularly required to show that the airport and its facilities are not under the control of Hezbollah so that they can continue operating. In this regard, it should be noted that most airlines have given in to Israeli warnings by suspending flights to Lebanon. According to them, this suspension is due to the high insurance prices, but the reality remains the same: Only the national airline, MEA, is currently landing in Beirut.
On the ground, the Israelis are bombing the border crossings between Lebanon and Syria. It started with the bombings of the main border crossing in Masnaa, which led to the road being completely cut off. The Lebanese authorities are not authorized to make it passable again, under the pretext that it is one of Hezbollah's supply routes from Iran. Once the Masnaa border crossing became impassable, the Israelis bombed that of Joussiyeh, on the Syrian side, near al-Qaa, also in the Bekaa. More recently, a few days ago, the Israelis bombed the crossings between Lebanon and Syria on the Akkar border for the same purported reasons.
Lebanon is therefore subjected to a certain form of land blockade, and ordinary citizens are paying the price since they are the ones deprived of the means to pass through these crossings.
Indeed, sources close to Hezbollah assert that the armed group still manages to secure supply routes with Iran and that in any case, there is no shortage of bombs, drones, missiles or other military equipment. Moreover, the fighting in the southern border towns proves that Hezbollah is indeed launching numerous attacks daily.
What is its secret? No one can tell, but this is causing the Israelis to steadily intensify their attacks on land crossings.
Finally, the Batroun operation reflects Israel’s control over maritime routes as well. The stated reason for abducting the Lebanese naval personnel was his alleged involvement in arms transportation by sea. Whether this accusation proves accurate or not, the outcome remains the same: Israel has proven its ability to carry out attacks by sea, air and land.
Does this mean Israel is winning the war? Once again, it is the field that will have the final say.
This article was originally published in French in L'Orient Le-Jour.