unleash elements with flametongue

so i use unleash elements towards a player as enhance and they dodge it, is this a spell or a melee hit?

I suspect it is a melee hit or some unknown reason even if it is cast at range like frostbrand or flametongue.I dont really have a source to back me up but the fact that it can be cast while silenced by say Improved Counterspell makes me think it fall under the same type of melee attack like primal strike.