JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Following intelligence indications gathered in recent weeks, IDF forces conducted a nighttime operation between Sunday and Monday in the Har Dov region of Southern Lebanon, arresting a senior operative from the Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya terrorist organization.

The suspect was detained and transferred for further interrogation inside Israeli territory. Weapons were also discovered inside the building where he was arrested.

Security officials said the Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyya terrorist organization has promoted, and continues to attempt to  promote, terrorist attacks against the State of Israel and its civilians along the northern border during the course of the war.

The IDF Spokesperson stated: “IDF forces will continue to act to remove any threat to the State of Israel.”

The Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiyya organization, which is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood in Lebanon, confirmed the arrest and claimed that IDF troops entered the village of Al-Habbariyah on foot and “abducted” Atwi Atwi, a senior member of the organization.

The arrest follows IDF strikes carried out late last week on shafts used for weapons storage at Hezbollah military sites in several areas in Lebanon. Secondary explosions were identified following the strikes, indicating the presence of weapons at the sites.

The IDF noted that Hezbollah terrorist activity had been identified at the targeted locations in recent months and stated that the activity constituted a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon. Israeli security officials said the decision to arrest the operative rather than kill him stemmed from the significant intelligence value expected from his interrogation, including information related to Hezbollah.

In a separate incident in Rafah, four Hamas terrorists were killed on Monday morning during a clash in eastern Rafah after emerging from an underground tunnel and opening fire on IDF troops from the 7th Armored Brigade.

The incident occurred around 8 a.m. as the force was operating against a tunnel in Israeli-controlled territory along the so-called Yellow Line in eastern Rafah. The terrorists exited the tunnel and opened fire, prompting a close-range exchange in which the soldiers returned fire and killed all four attackers. No Israeli troops were injured.

The IDF described the incident as a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement by Hamas.