IDF captures senior terror commander in Lebanon

Israeli forces carried out a secret operation inside Lebanese territory, breaking into a senior terrorist’s home, capturing him, and seizing documents.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

Israeli special forces carried out a clandestine operation in Lebanon overnight, capturing a senior terrorist commander from a Hamas-linked Islamist Sunni organization.

Lebanese media outlets reported Monday morning that IDF forces penetrated Lebanese airspace overnight and conducted a raid in the village of al-Habbariyeh in the al-Arqoub region of southern Lebanon, some four kilometers (2.5 miles) north of the Israeli frontier.

During the raid, IDF soldiers entered the home of Atwi Atwi, a senior commander of the al-Jamaa al-Islamiyya terror group.

Also known as the Islamic Group, al-Jamaa al-Islamiyya is a Lebanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhood that is allied with both Hamas and Hezbollah. It includes a political branch, with one seat in the Lebanese parliament, and an armed wing, known as the Al-Fajr Forces.

Israeli troops captured Atwi during the raid and seized various documents and personal items, according to Lebanese reports.

The IDF confirmed the operation, without identifying the captured terrorist by name.

According to an army spokesperson, forces from the 210th Division carried out a nighttime operation in the Mount Dov area of southern Lebanon, arresting a senior terrorist from the Islamic Group.

“Following intelligence indications gathered in recent weeks, IDF forces conducted a raid overnight (Sunday) on a structure in the Mount Dov area and arrested a senior operative from the al-Jamaa al-Islamiyya terror organization,” the IDF announced Monday morning.

“The operative was detained and transferred for further interrogation inside Israeli territory. In addition, weapons were located in the building where the operative was arrested.”

Atwi was reportedly targeted by the IDF over his efforts to recruit terrorists and establish terrorist infrastructure in the Mount Dov area for future attacks on Israel.