Israeli naval commandos have seized a trainee mariner a military official described as a "senior operative" of Hezbollah in a raid in Lebanon and brought him to Israel for questioning. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati instructed the foreign ministry to submit a complaint to the UN Security Council over the raid on the coastal town of Batroun, his office said on Saturday. The Lebanese army and UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL are both conducting investigations into the raid, Mikati's office said, adding that he had called for "expedited" results.
First reported by Lebanese sources before an Israeli military official confirmed the military's involvement, the raid was the first of its kind since the Israel-Hezbollah war erupted in September. "A senior operative of Hezbollah, who serves as an expert in his field, was apprehended," the Israeli military official said. "The operative has been transferred to Israeli territory and is currently being investigated.
" Lebanon's state-run National News agency said an "unidentified military force" carried out a "sea landing" on the shore of Batroun, south of Tripoli, at dawn on Friday. The force "went with all its weapons and equipment to a chalet near the beach, kidnapping a Lebanese man..
. and sailing away into the open sea on a speedboat". An acquaintance of the abductee identified him as a student at the state-run Maritime Sciences and Technology Institute (MARSATI) in Batroun, Lebanon's primary training college for the shipping industr.
