Israel-Linked Spy Cell Leads to Arrest of 2 in Bourj Barajneh, 3 in Habboush
Security forces have arrested more people on suspicion of spying for the Israeli Mossad secret service.
The daily As Safir on Monday said a Lebanese intelligence force last week raided the house of a security member identified only as H.S. in the southern suburb neighborhood of Bourj Barajneh.
The suspect confessed to collecting data on the activities of Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and close aides "for many years."
He also confessed to recruiting his wife, who was arrested as well.
The detained security member said his task included a "lot of traveling to nearby countries to hand over data."
Three suspects were also arrested overnight in the southern village of Habboush "and initial indication shows that they were spying for Israel," a security official said.
Local media on Monday identified the suspects as Elizabeth H., a hostess, Ali A. and Hussein K.
Witnesses said the three were in the same car when they were busted in Habboush near Nabatiyeh.
Pan-Arab daily Al Hayat quoted security officials as confirming that the three work for Mossad, adding that they are still kept in Hizbullah custody and that they will be handed over to the Lebanese security service once primitive interrogation was over.
Two Lebanese men and a Palestinian were arrested on April 25 also on suspicion of spying for Israel and were linked by the authorities to a retired general security officer arrested for spying earlier that month.
Former Brig. Gen. Adib al-Alam was arrested along with his wife Hayat Saloumi and nephew Joseph Al-Alam and charged in April with espionage — a charge that carries the death sentence.
The three are accused of informing Israel about Lebanese and Syrian military and civilian sites "with the aim of facilitating Israeli attacks," a judicial official said last month.
Another suspect, Marwan Fakih, was arrested in south Lebanon in February.