Israeli Forces Kidnap Official from "Islamic Group" and Attack on Vehicle in Southern Lebanon

SadaNews - An Israeli military force kidnapped on Monday morning an official from the "Islamic Group" after infiltrating the town of al-Habbariyeh in southern Lebanon, while Israeli aircraft attacked a vehicle in the town of Yanouh, announcing that it targeted a Hezbollah member.

The Lebanese agency reported that "around four in the morning, an Israeli military force infiltrated on foot into the town of al-Habbariyeh in the Hasbaya region and proceeded to kidnap the Islamic Group official, Atwi Atwi, who is the former head of the municipality of al-Habbariyeh."

In the Tyre district, several people were injured due to an airstrike that targeted a "Rapid" vehicle in the center of Yanouh, with ambulances arriving at the targeted site to transport the injured.

The "Islamic Group" condemned the actions of the Israeli occupiers infringing under the cover of darkness late Sunday night into Monday, into al-Habbariyeh, kidnapping its official in the Hasbaya and Marjeyoun regions from his home and taking him to an unknown location after terrorizing and assaulting his family, as stated in their announcement.

The group held the occupying forces responsible for any harm that befalls him, affirming that this act adds to the daily violations and barbaric assaults on Lebanese sovereignty, questioning, "Did this piracy come in response to the Prime Minister's visit to the southern region and the towns of the Hasbaya district? And to the affirmation of the region's residents' commitment to the state?"

It indicated that "this piracy comes within the context of terrorizing the local residents to push them to leave their villages and lands," calling on the Lebanese state to put pressure on the sponsoring parties to stop hostile actions and work to release Atwi and all prisoners, as well as halt all Israeli violations of Lebanese land and sovereignty, and to defend the residents and civilians in their villages and towns, according to their statement.

Meanwhile, the municipality of al-Habbariyeh denounced the kidnapping of its former head Atwi from his home, stating in a statement that "this condemned criminal act attributed to the enemy constitutes a blatant assault on sovereignty, security, stability, and a gross violation of the sanctity of the home and the dignity of citizens, which is utterly rejected and cannot be accepted under any circumstances."

It affirmed that "such practices will not undermine the steadfastness of our people and their attachment to their land," calling on the concerned parties to fully assume their responsibilities and work to address this serious assault in a way that guarantees the protection of citizens and preserves their dignity; stressing standing in solidarity with the kidnapped's family and complete solidarity with them, as stated in their statement.

The municipality of Kfar Hammam also issued a statement stating, "An Israeli military force has kidnapped Atwi Atwi from his home and in front of his children in the town of al-Habbariyeh. While we condemn this blatant assault on unarmed civilians, we demand that the state and UNIFIL forces work diligently and swiftly to return Atwi to his family. We also call for complete and necessary protection for all citizens in the Arqoub region and the deployment of the Lebanese army and UNIFIL forces in all areas, especially those from which the enemy might infiltrate."