Israel on Friday disclosed new details about its “Behind the Back” operation, a November 2, 2024 raid in northern Lebanon that led to the capture of Imad Amhaz, whom the Israeli army described as a senior figure in Hezbollah’s secret maritime apparatus and a member of the coastal missile unit (Unit 7900).
Training and Expertise
During his interrogation, Amhaz reportedly revealed his central role in Hezbollah’s “secret maritime file” and provided sensitive intelligence about the project, describing the file as one of Hezbollah’s most secretive operations, focused on establishing a structured infrastructure for maritime terrorism under civilian cover to target Israeli and international interests.
According to Israeli Army Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee, Amhaz received military training in Iran and Lebanon as part of his role, gaining extensive maritime expertise aimed at carrying out maritime terrorist operations. He also received training at the Lebanese Civilian Maritime Institute (MARSTI), which has been cited as an example of Hezbollah’s exploitation of Lebanese civilian institutions to support its operations.
Abduction and Intelligence Breakthrough
Israel Hayom previously reported that the operation, carried out by elite Shayetet 13 naval commandos, took place after a three-year operation led by Israeli Naval Intelligence. Amhaz, known as “The Captain,” was abducted from the northern town of Batroun without resistance and brought to Israel for interrogation.
The newspaper detailed that Amhaz joined Hezbollah in 2004, received military training in Iran, and spent years sailing under civilian cover between Europe and Africa to qualify as a civilian ship captain. This enabled him to command commercial vessels while secretly advancing Hezbollah’s maritime operations, which aimed to use a civilian merchant ship as a mobile platform for large-scale attacks against Israel and potentially Western targets.
Targets and Threat Assessment
Israeli intelligence intensified its focus on Amhaz in late 2021, tracking clandestine meetings with senior Hezbollah officials linked to the group’s former naval commander, Fouad Shukr. During interrogation, Amhaz allegedly confirmed that Hezbollah planned attacks on Israeli ports, offshore gas installations, and civilian shipping, with Israel as the primary target and the United States considered an enemy.
The Strategic Impact
Israel Hayom emphasized that the capture of Amhaz dealt a significant blow to Hezbollah’s maritime ambitions. However, Israeli officials warned that other elements of the secret maritime project could remain active under different senior operatives.
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