Wreckage of blown up car that killed senior Islamic Jihad commander
Photo: AFP
Lebanon: Israeli spying cell busted
Assafir newspaper reports Lebanese authorities caught members of Lebanese nationals spying for Israel; says cell member reportedly admitted to role in assassination of two senior Islamic Jihad members in Sidon
The Lebanese intelligence services uncovered "one of the most prominent Israeli cells operating in Lebanon since 1990," the Beirut-based daily Assafir reported Monday.
The report comes two days after authorities said they arrested a man believed to have masterminded the assassination of a senior Islamic Jihad commander and with links to Israeli intelligence.
Assassination
Car bomb in Sidon critically injures senior group leader Mahmoud Majzoub, who later dies of wounds, kills his brother. Jihad blames Israel for assassination
The operation focused on identifying the owner of a Mercedes car used in the assassination.
Mohammad Rafeh, 59, of the southern Lebanese town of Hassbaya, was under surveillance for ten days after the assassination.
Authorities confiscated Rafeh's computer which they believe contains information that could link Rafeh to Israeli elements.
A senior intelligence official told Assafir that Rafeh admitted he had planned and carried out the assassination of the Majzoub brothers and to other operations targeting Hizbullah officials.
Rafeh admitted to having taken part in the assassination of senior Hizbullah official, Ali Hussein Saleh, in 2003.
The official refused to tell the newspaper whether Rafeh was involved in the assassination of Jihad Jibril, son of Ahmed Jibril, the head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
The newspaper said seven hours after Rafeh's arrest another suspect was arrested in Hassbaya.
