Missing Israeli Air Force officer Ron Arad, photographed by Amal militants in Lebanon in 1987. (Wikipedia)
Clashes broke out over the night of March 6 and 7 in the eastern Lebanese governorate of Baalbek-Hermel as Israeli commandos landed from helicopters near the town of Nabi Chit close to the Syrian border, with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) later announcing that the special operation was aimed at recovering the remains of missing Israeli Air Force navigator Ron Arad.
In a statement, Hezbollah said that its fighters had “observed the infiltration of four Israeli enemy army helicopters from the Syrian direction.”
After landing, advancing troops “were engaged by a group” of Hezbollah fighters as they reached the Nabi Chit cemetery, Hezbollah said, noting the use of light and medium weapons.
The group claimed that Israeli forces responded with some 40 strikes from fighter jets and attack helicopters before evacuating the troops, and later said its fighters fired rockets as the Israeli forces withdrew. Armed locals also opened fire at the retreating troops, according to the group.
The state-run National News Agency, citing the Lebanese health ministry, said that Israeli strikes on Nabi Chit killed at least 16 people and wounded 35 others.
A video leaked from a Lebanese military observation post showed an Israeli helicopter landing troops near Nabi Chit before taking off, and other videos posted to social networks from the town and its surroundings showed waves of gunfire in the air.
A later video appeared to show a hole in the ground that the troops dug at the edge of a local cemetery, which belongs to the Shukr family.
The IDF then announced in a statement that the deep special operation was an attempt to locate the remains of Arad.
Arad and pilot Yishai Aviram were on a mission to attack Palestinian targets around the town of Maghdouche in southern Lebanon on October 16 of 1986, when their F-4 Phantom II fell. Israel claims that a bomb dropped by the warplane exploded prematurely, forcing both crewmen to eject. However, Lebanese media reported at the time that the warplane was hit by anti-aircraft fire.
Aviram was located by an Israeli Bell AH-1 Cobra a few hours later, and escaped by clinging to one of its landing skids as it flew away while under heavy enemy fire, but Arad was captured by the Lebanese Amal. He has long been presumed dead, but his remains were never returned.
Arad was allegedly held in a house belonging to the Shukr family in Nabi Chit following his disappearance, and Israel has conducted searches in the area in the past in efforts to locate his remains.
Last December, Lebanese authorities said that a retired Lebanese security officer from Nabi Chit who had ties to Arad’s capture disappeared. The man was from the Shukr family.
The operation was, however, a failure. The IDF said that “no findings relating to Arad were discovered during the operation in Nabi Chit.” The military added that there were no casualties to Israeli forces during the raid, noting that no fire was directed at troops, contrary to claims made by Hezbollah.
This was the IDF’s most daring operation in Lebanon since Hezbollah resumed military operations on March 1, just a day after the start of the American-Israeli attack on Iran.
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israel seems to be hellbent on starting a world war. wonder what kind of deal was made in alaska that was kept a secret. because it looks like russia’s belly will be exposed if they keep acting indifferent as if this will not come back to haunt them. the war in ukraine will be like nothing compared to what is coming.
epic failure? hahaha
more like hezbollah is a failure