An Israeli occupation force abducted an official in the Jamaa Islamiya group and former mayor of Habbarieh, after it infiltrated the town of Habbarieh in the Arqoub region, Hasbaya district, before dawn on Monday.
Al-Manar correspondent reported that an Israeli force carried out the abduction of the official, Atwi Atwi, at 1:00 AM on the northern outskirts of the town of Habbarieh.
The force infiltrated the northern outskirts of the town on foot, our correspondent reported, adding that the town is located 7 kilometers from Ruweisat Al-Alam site and more than 8 kilometers from the Radar site.
He indicated that the Israeli force reached the house on foot through the olive groves and stormed the house where Atwi and his wife reside.
Our correspondent pointed out that 5 Israeli soldiers entered the house, one of them masked, and beat them before the wife was taken to the kitchen, handcuffed and blindfolded. Then the force withdrew through the olive grove.
نقطة ضوء | تسللت قوة إسرائيلية ليلا إلى بلدة الهبارية جنوب لبنان واختطفت القيادي في الجماعة الإسلامية عطوي عطوي من منزله بعد قيامهم بتقييد زوجته وعصب عينيها
— نقطة ضوء (@NoqtatD) February 9, 2026
وتعد هذه الواقعة الأولى من نوعها داخل لبنان منذ شهور pic.twitter.com/oSIC62966k
Jamaa Islamiya Statement
The Jamaa Islamiya group in Lebanon announced that Israeli occupation forces infiltrated southern Lebanon and abducted one of its officials in the Hasbaya region.
In a statement, the Islamic group condemned the Israeli occupation forces for abducting its official, Atwi Atwi, from his home.
The Israeli forces took Atwi “to an unknown location after terrorizing his family and assaulting them,” the statement read.
It called on the Lebanese State to work to secure the release of Atwi and all detainees, and put an end to all Israeli violations of Lebanese territory and sovereignty.
The group also urged the state to defend civilians and peaceful residents in their villages and towns.
No statement has yet been issued by the Lebanese authorities regarding the incident.
Israeli Narrative
For its part, the Israeli army announced it had carried out the operation, saying its forces raided the Jabal Rous area in southern Lebanon and “arrested a prominent operative in the Islamic Group during a nighttime operation.”
In a statement, it said the operation came “in light of intelligence gathered over recent weeks,” adding that the detainee “was transferred to Israel for interrogation.”
It claimed that “combat equipment was found inside the building” and accused the Islamic group of carrying out activities “against Israel on the northern front.”
Later on Monday, residents of Habbarieh staged a sit-in near the municipality building in protest against the Israeli aggression and the abduction of Atwi.
أهالي بلدة الهبارية واتحاد بلديات العرقوب ينظمون وقفة استنكارية للإعتداء "الإسـ ـرائـ ـيلي" وعملية اختطاف ابن البلدة عطوي عطوي أمام مبنى الإتحاد.
— Mulhak – ملحق (@Mulhak) February 9, 2026
المشاركون تساءلوا عن كيفية حصول التوغل في منطقة انتشار قوات اليونيفيل والجيش اللبناني وفي عمق منطقة مكتظة بالسكان خصوصاً بعد إعلان… pic.twitter.com/7qJRIsxWnF
Protesters questioned how the incursion occurred in an area where UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army were deployed, and deep within a densely populated area, especially after the Lebanese State declared control and the monopoly of weapons south of the Litani River.
They demanded that the fate of the captive Atwi be revealed and that action be taken to secure his immediate release.
Source: Al-Manar English Website