Israeli forces carried out a cross-border raid into southern Lebanon overnight, detaining what the military described as a “senior operative” from Al-Jama‘a al-Islamiya, the Lebanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said troops from the 210th Division conducted the operation in the Mount Rus (Har Dov) area after weeks of intelligence gathering.
Writing on X, Adraee said Israeli forces raided a building during the night, arrested a “prominent terrorist operative” and transferred him to Israel for interrogation, adding that weapons were found inside the building.
An Israeli military spokeswoman later confirmed the arrest, saying the army would “continue to act to remove any threat to Israel.”
Islamic Group denounces ‘abduction’
The Islamic Group identified the detainee as Atwi Atwi, its local official in the Hasbaya-Marjayoun area, accusing Israeli forces of infiltrating Lebanese territory, storming his home, assaulting family members and taking him to an unknown location.
In a statement, the group condemned what it called an act of “piracy,” questioning whether the raid was linked to a visit a day earlier by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to southern Lebanon, during which residents reaffirmed their commitment to state authority.
The group urged the Lebanese government to pressure international sponsors of the ceasefire to secure Atwi’s release and halt what it described as repeated Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty.
Ceasefire under strain
Despite a ceasefire reached between Israel and Lebanon in November 2024, Israeli forces remain positioned at more than five locations along the border inside Lebanese territory, according to Lebanese officials.
Israel continues to carry out regular air strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, saying it is targeting positions linked to Hezbollah, while surveillance drones are reported to fly almost daily over multiple regions.
Lebanese Army expands deployment
Lebanon’s government has recently reaffirmed its decision to place all weapons under state authority. The Lebanese Army has completed weapons-collection operations south of the Litani River and begun similar efforts north of it, deploying troops across much of southern Lebanon.
Israeli officials accused the Islamic Group of carrying out attacks against Israel during the war and in recent weeks, vowing continued military action along the northern front.
The incident highlights the fragility of the ceasefire and the continued volatility along the Israel-Lebanon border. While the Lebanese state says it is working to place all weapons under government control, this effort remains largely symbolic as Hezbollah continues to operate independently, publicly insisting it retains military capabilities and is actively developing its arsenal.
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