On Nov. 1, an Israeli special forces unit conducted a naval landing operation in northern Lebanon, abducting a Lebanese sea captain whom they accused of being a “senior Hezbollah operative.” The failure to detect the Israeli boats has led to speculation that Germany may have facilitated the military operation.

The high-profile Israeli mission to seize a man from Batroun, a coastal city 30 kilometers north of Beirut, quickly became a topic of heated debate over the weekend. Questions swirled around how Israeli forces managed to evade detection during the operation, fueling further controversy.

On the first day of November, 25 Israeli Shayetet 13 naval commandos conducted a landing operation via speedboats approximately 400 meters from Batroun Marina, a popular tourist destination in Lebanon. Axios quickly cited Israeli military sources claiming that a “senior operative of Hezbollah” had been seized from a beachfront chalet.

The abducted man was later identified as Imad Amhaz, a sea captain who had been studying with plans to join Lebanon’s navy. Lebanese officials described him as a civilian boat captain, prompting caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to announce that Lebanon would file a complaint against Israel at the United Nations, citing a violation of sovereignty and UN Resolution 1701.

LEBANESE MINISTER DEMANDS ANSWERS OVER NAVAL OFFICER’S KIDNAPPING

Lebanese Minister Ali Hamieh stated that Imad Amhaz, a civilian naval officer, was kidnapped just 100 meters from his home.

Hamieh said that Lebanon is in contact with UNIFIL, which monitors the country’s… https://t.co/QO90AwBYWL pic.twitter.com/MeSU4gsZOG

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) November 2, 2024

Israel has reported that Amhaz is being interrogated at a secret location, but a flurry of contradictory claims has surfaced about his alleged role within Hezbollah. Anonymous sources have floated a spectrum of accusations—from Amhaz assisting in the clandestine transfer of weapons by sea to holding a senior position within Hezbollah’s naval operations. Meanwhile, Amhaz’s father has publicly refuted any links between his son and the group, pushing back against the allegations surrounding his detention.

Earlier this week, Lebanese media outlet Al-Diyar offered a closer look at the Lebanese Army’s account of the recent Israeli raid. In the report, Lebanese Army Commander Joseph Aoun described how the Israeli boats, moving at high speeds and deploying jamming devices, evaded detection by the country’s ten radar systems. Aoun noted that blind spots in Lebanon’s radar network added to the challenge. For now, these details mark the preliminary conclusions of Beirut’s investigation into the high-stakes operation.

Speculation is swirling around potential German collusion in the Israeli raid, as Germany’s naval forces, part of the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission, regularly patrol and monitor Lebanese waters.

UNIFIL moved quickly to deny any involvement, issuing a statement insisting its forces had no role in “facilitating any kidnapping operation or any violation of Lebanese sovereignty.” Yet doubts persist, with Germany’s actions in the region already raising eyebrows; just weeks prior, on Oct. 17, German forces shot down a Hezbollah drone, signaling a more assertive stance in the conflict.

It starts with Germany but it will be an EU wide policy soon. https://t.co/vVFjZMfxUb

— MENA Unleashed (@MENAUnleashed) November 7, 2024

Reports have since suggested that Israeli forces may have jammed UNIFIL’s radar systems during the raid, stirring fresh doubts about possible coordination behind the scenes. Germany, a key weapons supplier to Israel and one of Tel Aviv’s most loyal backers, has offered unflinching support to Israel throughout the Gaza conflict. Given these close and often controversial ties, some speculate that Israel might have quietly informed its German allies of the operation in advance, ensuring their cooperation—or at least silence—to prevent any unintended clashes.

Shortly after the incident, The Telegraph published a report citing an anonymous senior Lebanese political figure “who opposes Hezbollah,” claiming that the abducted sea captain was a “double agent.” The source, suspected to be connected to the Lebanese Forces party—a faction known for its vehement opposition to Hezbollah and a history of dubious claims—used this narrative to cast suspicion on the captain’s loyalties.

The Telegraph has a fraught history in Lebanon, having faced backlash in June after publishing an article based on anonymous sources, claiming—without clear evidence—that Hezbollah was stockpiling weapons at Beirut International Airport. The report leaned on statements from Lebanese Forces MP Ghassan Hasbani, who alleged that Hezbollah controlled the airport, along with vague accounts from unnamed “whistleblowers.” The claims, presented without substantial verification, sparked outrage in Lebanon, where officials saw the article as an attack on the country’s infrastructure.

Lebanese Caretaker Minister of Public Works and Transport Ali Hamieh condemned the report as “ridiculous,” asserting that “Lebanon will file a lawsuit against The Telegraph because its article aims to damage the reputation of the airport.” In response, The Telegraph quietly revised the headline and heavily edited the article—a move that underscored concerns about the integrity of the original reporting.

Now, following Israel’s recent covert operation, unanswered questions are adding to a growing unease in Lebanon over Western influence and media narratives. Frustrations have only intensified after the U.S. embassy in Beirut blocked Iraqi Airways from setting up a humanitarian airbridge to aid those affected by Israel’s ongoing airstrikes, leaving Lebanese citizens questioning the motives behind foreign interventions.

Feature photo | The likenesses of German Chancellor Scholz, US President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu can be seen with black eye patches and bloody fangs at a protest in Steindamm in Hamburg, Germany, September 21, 2024. Georg Wendt | AP

Robert Inlakesh is a political analyst, journalist and documentary filmmaker based in London, UK. He has reported from and lived in the occupied Palestinian territories and hosts the show ‘Palestine Files. Director of ‘Steal of the Century: Trump’s Palestine-Israel Catastrophe.’ Follow him on Twitter @falasteen47

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