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Israeli naval forces captured a top Hezbollah operative in northern Lebanon as the conflict between the Iran-backed group and Israel showed few signs of easing.

An Israeli military official said in a statement that IDF forces captured a “senior Hezbollah agent” and brought him back to Israel for investigation by military intelligence.

Media outlet Axios cited Israeli sources as saying the captured man is named Imad Amhaz and is allegedly responsible for Hezbollah’s naval operations.

Two Lebanese military officers confirmed that a naval force landed in Batroun, about 30 kilometers north of the capital, Beirut, and kidnapped a Lebanese citizen.

The operation marks the first time Israel has announced it has deployed troops deep into northern Lebanon to take a senior Hezbollah official captive since the conflict between the two sides escalated in late September.

Hezbollah issued a statement describing what happened as a “Zionist aggression in the Batroun area.” The statement did not give details or confirm whether a Hezbollah member was captured by Israel.

Shortly after Israel made the operation public, Lebanese interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati asked Lebanon’s foreign minister to file a complaint against Israel with the UN Security Council.

When recounting the event, the Lebanese residents of the apartment building where the man was detained said that the armed group presented itself as state security.

“We were terrified. They were breaking into the apartment next to ours,” Hussein Delbani said.

“I thought a state agency was conducting a security operation.”

Kandice Ardiel, spokesperson for the UN peacekeeping force deployed in Lebanon, UNIFIL, denied accusations by some local journalists who said the peacekeepers helped the Israeli landing force in the operation.

“Disinformation and false rumors are irresponsible and put peacekeepers at risk,” Ardiel said.

Cross-border fire

Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged fire almost daily since the war in Gaza began in October last year.

Hezbollah is ideologically aligned with the Gaza-based militant group Hamas, and Hezbollah says its attacks against Israel are in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Year-long cross-border fighting that has displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border erupted into all-out war on October 1, when Israeli forces launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon for the first time since 2006. .

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It is estimated that up to 15,000 IDF troops have been deployed to Lebanon.