Israeli Operation in Eastern Lebanon Concludes Without Locating Ron Arad, Leads to Clashes and Casualties
An Israeli military operation conducted in eastern Lebanon late Friday night, aimed at locating the remains of missing Israeli navigator Ron Arad, concluded without achieving its objective. The incursion led to a confrontation involving Israeli forces, Hezbollah fighters, and local residents, resulting in reported casualties and Israeli airstrikes in the area.
Operation Details
On Friday night at 10 pm, Israeli military forces entered Lebanese airspace. Reports indicate that four Israeli helicopters initially entered, with two subsequently landing in a border area between Lebanon and Syria, near the villages of Nabi Chit and Khraibeh in the eastern Bekaa valley. Lebanese army officials reported detecting the incursion and launching flares over the Israeli helicopters.
Upon landing, Israeli soldiers proceeded to a cemetery in Nabi Chit to excavate a grave. The headstone of the excavated grave belonged to Hussein Shukr. Ron Arad, an Israeli pilot, has been missing since 1986, and the search for his remains has been a decades-long effort.
Clashes and Airstrikes
As Israeli forces engaged in their search, a firefight ensued with Hezbollah fighters and local residents. Hezbollah confirmed its fighters engaged an "enemy infantry force" near the village cemetery during the Israeli forces' withdrawal. Local residents also reported firing at the forces. The fighting reportedly continued until 3 am.
While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated it was unaware of any Lebanese casualties or that airstrikes were carried out in conjunction with the commando raid, the Lebanese military and local residents reported extensive aerial activity.
The Israeli military reportedly conducted at least 40 airstrikes on Nabi Chit while ground forces were engaged in combat. Social media videos, geolocated by Reuters, depicted gunfire and tracer bullets, and a local resident reported hearing "warplanes started bombing."
Casualties and Damage
The Lebanese health ministry reported 41 people killed and 40 wounded as a result of the raid and associated strikes. The Lebanese army also reported that three Lebanese soldiers were among those killed. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that no Israeli soldiers were injured during the operation.
The airstrikes caused significant damage in Nabi Chit, leveling several buildings, rendering a main road inaccessible, and leaving a large crater. Videos from the incident showed extensive damage to surrounding structures.
Search for Ron Arad: A Decades-Long Effort
The primary objective of the Israeli operation was to locate the remains of navigator Ron Arad, who has been missing since 1986. Arad's aircraft was damaged over southern Lebanon during a mission targeting PLO forces, leading to his capture by the Amal movement, and subsequent transfer to Hezbollah. No verified proof of life has been received since the late 1980s.
An Israeli government commission determined in 2004 that he had died in the mid-1990s. Despite this, the Israeli government has continued efforts to locate his remains.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog previously stated that Israel "must never cease its efforts to bring Arad to burial in Israel," emphasizing it as a fundamental commitment.
Intelligence and Background
The recent operation was reportedly based on new intelligence. This intelligence was gathered from Lebanese security official Ahmad Shuker. In December, retired Lebanese general security officer Ahmed Shukr was abducted from Nabi Chit. Lebanese officials suspected Israeli intelligence involvement, potentially linking it to Shukr's brother, Hassan, who Israeli intelligence suspected of involvement in Arad's capture.
In 2021, then-Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had indicated that Israeli intelligence had abducted an Iranian general from Syria as part of the ongoing search for Arad.
Reactions
Tami Arad, Ron Arad's widow, issued a statement expressing gratitude for the efforts to find her husband. However, she also cautioned against operations that would endanger Israeli soldiers.
"My family is reluctant for military personnel to risk their lives, prioritizing the sanctity of life over recovering remains," she stated. She affirmed that while the family seeks to know what happened to Ron, they do not wish it to be at the cost of Israeli soldiers' safety.
The raid occurred amid ongoing Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah, which have followed a recent conflict with Iran.