Army Arrests 3 Spies, Including Senior Official in “Non-Civilian” Institution
Lebanese authorities have arrested three more suspects on suspicion of spying for Israel, including a senior official in a "non-civilian" institution, the daily Al-Akhbar reported Monday.
It said the suspect was arrested over the weekend. Al Akhbar gave no further details.
The other detainees were identified as retired army officer H.A.H., 55, from Qantara and Jawdat H., 54, from Ibl el-Saqi. Both towns are in the Marjayoun-Hasbaya province.
Pan-Arab daily al-Hayat said the retired officer, who owns a grocery store in the town of Braiqeh, confessed to spying for Israel on the way to the intelligence bureau in Yarze for interrogation.
He led officers to the location where he hid the equipment, al-Hayat said.
It said communication devices, computer sets and timing devices similar to those used in bombing attacks were seized from Jawdat”s house in Aley, in addition to an R.P.G. and a Kalashnikov rifle.
The paper said an army unit later raided his house in Qsseibeh near the southern town of Nabatiyeh and found a transmitter and receiver, a camera, a computer and CD-ROMs.
His two sons were also arrested. Security sources, however, told al-Hayat, that their arrest was a "normal procedure" to clarify family status.
Al-Hayat said Lebanese troops also raided the house of M.Sh.D. in Hadatha near Bint Jbeil early Sunday on suspicion he worked for the Israeli secret service, Mossad, only to find out that he had fled.
His wife said he left home four days ago, adding that she had no idea of his whereabouts.
The army unit, however, confiscated his four-wheeler and a computer set.