Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar revealed a series of new details about Shayetet 13's daring operation last Friday – in which Imad Amhaz, a senior member of Hezbollah's naval force, was abducted to Israel.
According to the paper, the commandos wore Lebanese army uniforms. The force consisted of about 25 men who had reached al-Bu'sur in northern Lebanon, very far from the border with Israel. About 20 of them were dressed in Lebanese security uniforms, several others were in civilian clothes, and the newspaper adds that "it is not known whether they are part of the force or Lebanese agents."
The force that came, apparently from the shore, abducted Imad Amhaz and returned with him towards the sea. According to preliminary information, when the fighters broke into Amhaz's apartment, one of the residents woke up and a member of the force shouted at him, "State security, leave."
Security camera recordings in the building were erased, but the camera of the adjacent building was able to film members of the "group" who were seen walking with their guns drawn. The photo also shows a young man on a skateboard, and investigators believe he is part of the fighters.
The investigators conducting the investigation have a number of hypotheses, including that part of the commando force was present on the ground for reconnaissance and surveillance even before the operation was carried out. It is believed that the fighters came ashore with rubber boats, and returned in the same manner.
Al-Akhbar also claimed that the operation lasted only 4 minutes and that Amhaz had no contact with the Lebanese security services. Security forces found about 10 foreign SIM cards and a phone with a foreign passport in his apartment. The Lebanese investigative force also worked to collect camera recordings around the apartment of the abducted official, but it turned out that Israel managed to erase the data remotely.
