Local terror cells were quick to mobilize once the disappearance was discovered, while the IDF team was still withdrawing.
By Hezy Laing
The overnight raid that unfolded this week in southern Lebanon marks one of the most audacious IDF ground operations in recent years.
Under the cover of darkness, an elite special forces unit crossed four kilometers into Lebanese territory to apprehend Atwi Atwi, a senior operative in the Jama’a Islamiya terror organization.
The mission took place in the remote village of Al‑Arkoub, nestled along the northeastern slopes of Mount Dov, an area that has become increasingly unstable as rival factions compete for influence.
The operation began long before the first soldier crossed the border.
According to Israeli defense officials, the IDF’s covert infiltration into Lebanon to capture a senior terror commander was the culmination of months of intelligence gathering, deception planning, and inter‑branch coordination.
While the dramatic extraction made headlines, the quieter work behind the scenes reveals how the mission became one of the most complex cross‑border operations in recent years.
The target, a high‑ranking operative responsible for orchestrating attacks on northern Israel, had been moving between safe houses deep inside Lebanese territory.
Israeli intelligence units spent weeks mapping his routines, identifying patterns, and locating vulnerabilities.
Rather than opting for an airstrike, Israeli security officials chose a ground snatch operation, driven by the urgent need to extract intelligence on the rapidly shifting terror landscape.
The decision reflects a growing emphasis on capturing—not eliminating—high‑value operatives who can shed light on emerging alliances and operational plans.
A senior intelligence officer described the process as “a slow tightening of a net,” with signals intelligence, aerial surveillance, and human sources all feeding into a single operational picture.
Once the target’s location was confirmed, planners from the IDF’s elite units began constructing a route that would allow a small team to infiltrate undetected.
The challenge was not only the physical terrain but the dense presence of hostile forces and surveillance networks.
Former IDF special operations commander Col. (res.) Amit Rahamim explained that “cross‑border missions require a level of precision that leaves no room for improvisation. Every movement, every minute, is rehearsed.”
Israeli commandos entered Atwi’s home shortly after midnight, surprising him in his bed.
His wife was restrained and moved to another room to prevent interference, and within minutes the force secured the target and began its withdrawal.
The team returned to Israeli territory before local terrorists could mount a coordinated response, a feat that underscores Israel’s expanding operational freedom along the border.
Until recently, such a deep incursion into Lebanon was considered nearly impossible.
But the erosion of Hezbollah’s dominance in the border region, combined with the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, has created a volatile vacuum.
Israeli intelligence believes a “terrorist scramble” is underway, with Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Houthis, and Iranian operatives all attempting to establish new footholds.
Jama’a Islamiya, once a marginal Sunni faction, has transformed into a significant threat thanks to Iranian funding and growing cooperation with Hezbollah.
Its designation as a Global Terror Organization by the U.S. State Department in January 2026 reflects this shift.
Hezbollah’s Secretary‑General Naim Qassem condemned the raid, but analysts noted the unusually defensive tone of his remarks.
For Israel, the capture of Atwi Atwi is more than a tactical success—it is a window into a rapidly evolving northern arena where old assumptions no longer apply.
