Suleiman Congratulates Security Forces on Unprecedented Achievement by Uncovering Israeli Spies
President Michel Suleiman visited Wednesday the headquarters of the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces (ISF) in Ashrafiyeh to examine the achievements made in the arrests of Israeli spy cells.
Suleiman congratulated security forces on their "unprecedented achievement" by uncovering Israeli espionage rings.
Police chief Gen. Ashraf Rifi on Tuesday expected more arrests in the investigation into spying for Israel that has already led to dozens of people being arrested.
"We have not completed the mission," Rifi said. "We have files that are still being prepared for arrests."
The wave of arrests began in April with the detention of former ISF Brig. Gen. Adib al-Alam. His wife and nephew also were detained.
The latest arrests made included two serving colonels in the Lebanese army as well as at least five members of the security forces.
"Most played central spying roles and confessed to falling into the snares of the Israeli enemy," Rifi said.
He cited sex, money and politics as possible motives behind the detainees” decision to spy for the Israeli secret service, Mossad.
Some of the detainees were involved in operational missions, including the assassination of Hizbullah commander Ghaleb Awali in 2004, according to Rifi. He was killed by a bomb in Beirut”s southern suburbs.
Rifi declined to discuss the thread that led to the arrests.