Lebanese Group Alleges Israel Abducted Leader in Southern Lebanon Raid
February 9, 2026
Lebanese group al-Jamaa al-Islamiya has accused Israel of abducting its member Atwi Atwi during a midnight raid in southern Lebanon's Hasbaiyya district. The group condemned the "infiltration" by Israeli forces. Israel's military said soldiers conducted a "targeted raid" after "intelligence indications gathered in recent weeks". They apprehended a "senior terrorist" and transferred him for further questioning inside Israel. The military accused al-Jamaa al-Islamiya of launching attacks on Israel and its civilians in the north. The Lebanese state-run news agency reported Israeli troops entered the area around 4 am and abducted Atwi, who is a former mayor of Hibbariyeh village. Lebanon claims Israel has abducted several citizens since recent hostilities began. Hezbollah lawmaker Hussein Hajj Hassan stated last month Israel holds "20 Lebanese prisoners", with 10 taken "inside Lebanese territory after the ceasefire". Meanwhile, on Monday, an Israeli air raid killed three people, including a child, in Yanooh town, Tyre district. The attack targeted a vehicle in the town's center, according to Lebanese media. These incidents come despite a November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which called for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese land and Hezbollah pulling fighters back north of the Litani River. However, Israel continues military actions in southern Lebanon, occupying five key points it considers strategic.
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Tags:
Israel
Lebanon
Abduction
Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya
Hezbollah
Ceasefire
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