Lebanon says it uncovered 17 Israeli spy rings

Beirut (QNN)- A vast Israeli spy ring was uncovered by a Lebanese intelligence agency on Monday, according to a government minister.

The Lebanese news site Al-Akhbar reported that the Israeli spy ring infiltrated Palestinian organisations operating in Lebanon, including Hezbollah and the Lebanese intelligence agency itself.

Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi confirmed the report during the weekly government meeting that Lebanese security forces had discovered 17 spy rings, some of which operated beyond Lebanon’s borders.

In total, it was reported that 35 suspects were summoned for questioning, with 20 arrested.

Al-Akhbar said that the findings suggest that the spy ring was “unprecedented” and added that it will seriously hamper Israeli espionage efforts in the country.

It also added that the discovery is “one of Lebanon’s biggest security operations” since 2009.

The security operation was carried out four weeks ago and after the coordination of the intelligence branch with the command of the internal security forces.

Within four weeks, they were able to obtain cases involving dozens of suspects who directly or indirectly collaborated with the Israeli occupation government.

Agents were allegedly recruited by ‘Israel’ through social media, where they were offered money in exchange for their cooperation, the report added.

Moreover, the report stated that the suspects had received payments of 100-200 dollars declared as assistance from family members to not arouse suspicions among security officials.

The payments were transferred to the suspects through countries in South America, Africa and East Asia.

“Investigations revealed that at least 12 of the detainees were aware that they were working for Israel and that the rest believed that they were working for international institutions or non-governmental organisations,” Al-Akhbar reported.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the arrests had helped stop “efforts to tamper with security and sabotage the stability of the country,” according to a cabinet statement read by Information Minister Abbas Halabi.