There are growing doubts over whether a ‘Hezbollah operative’ captured by Israeli special forces could actually have been a double agent.
In a daring mission, Israeli forces kidnapped Imad Ahmaz, a Lebanese ship captain, from a building in the northern Lebanese city of Batroun on Friday.
The dramatic raid involved at least 12 naval commandos from Shayetet 13 – the Israeli version of the Royal Navy’s elite Special Boat Service – who transported Mr Ahmaz to an unknown location in the Mediterranean Sea.
Intelligence experts have claimed that the strikingly different operation to remove Ahmaz – compared to recent operations in Lebanon – suggests he may have been working as a double agent.
Posing as Lebanese security forces, the Israelis broke down the door to Ahmaz’s apartment before transporting him back to their ship.
In a daring mission, Israeli forces kidnapped Imad Ahmaz, a Lebanese ship captain, from a building in the northern Lebanese city of Batroun on Friday.
Posing as Lebanese security forces, the Israelis broke down the door to Ahmaz’s apartment before transporting him back to their ship.
Intelligence experts have claimed that the strikingly different operation to remove Ahmaz, compared to recent operations in Lebanon, suggests he may have been working as a double agent.
Since the war with Hamas began following the October 7 attack, Israel has captured dozens of senior Hamas figures.
However, during the recent conflict between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon, Israeli forces have focused on airstrikes to eliminate Hezbollah leaders. This only adds to the apparent peculiarities of Friday’s operation.
An anonymous senior political figure in Lebanon, who opposes Hezbollah, said The daily telegraph that there were “signs pointing to the fact that (Mr. Ahmaz) may have been a double agent.”
Meanwhile, Ronen Solomon, an Israeli defense and intelligence analyst expert on Hezbollah operatives and operations, said the kidnapping was unusual.
Solomon claimed that items found in his home, such as SIM cards and several passports, suggest he could have been a spy.
His alleged work as a senior operative in a Hezbollah unit specializing in transporting weapons and electronics used in the fight against Israel means he could have been recruited by the country.
An anonymous source in Israel also speculated that it was unusual that the CCTV footage had not been disabled, as if someone wanted video proof of the kidnapping.
Meanwhile, following the incursion into Lebanon – which is the northernmost operation carried out by Israel since the war began – the country
Acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati said he had ordered the government to file a complaint with the UN Security Council over the kidnapping, citing the violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty.