BEIRUT — A Lebanese ship captain has allegedly been abducted by armed individuals who landed on a coastline north of Beirut, causing authorities to initiate an investigation into the possibility of Israeli involvement.
According to two Lebanese military officials, a naval entity reportedly disembarked in Batroun, located roughly 30 kilometers (18 miles) north of the capital, and abducted a local man. The officials declined to disclose the man’s identity or clarify if he had any connections to Hezbollah, the militant group based in Lebanon. They also did not confirm whether the individuals involved in the incident were affiliated with Israeli forces.
In an interview with Al-Jadeed TV in Lebanon, Public Works and Transport Minister Ali Hamie refrained from providing specifics or responding to inquiries regarding the nature of the operation, particularly whether it was suspected to be an Israeli mission.
Insights from three Lebanese judicial officials revealed that the abduction occurred early on Friday morning, and there were suggestions that the captain may have ties to Hezbollah. Investigators are considering whether the man was associated with the militant group or had connections to an Israeli intelligence agency, speculating that an Israeli unit may have conducted the abduction to retrieve him.
Both military and judicial officials provided information on the condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to comment on the ongoing inquiry. Hamie shared that the abducted individual was a civilian ship captain who graduated in 2022. Recently, he enrolled in additional courses at the Batroun’s Maritime Sciences and Technology Institute. Hamie further noted that the man resided approximately 300 meters (980 feet) from the institute.
The minister’s statements followed the circulation of a video on social media by two Lebanese journalists. The footage seemed to show around 20 armed men escorting an individual from in front of a residence, with the man’s face obscured by his shirt.
In response to allegations made by some local reporters, Kandice Ardiel, the spokesperson for the United Nations peacekeeping force stationed in southern Lebanon, refuted claims suggesting that peacekeepers had assisted the landing party during the operation. The UN mission, identified as UNIFIL, oversees maritime activities along the coast.
Ardiel expressed concerns, stating, “Disinformation and false rumors are irresponsible and put peacekeepers at risk.”
As of now, there has been no official response from Israeli authorities regarding the incident. Historically, Israel has conducted commando operations within Lebanese territory aimed at capturing or assassinating members of Hezbollah and Palestinian officials.