Zachary Baumel (Archives)
Reproduction photo
Hizbullah Chief Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah
Photo: AFP
Report: Suspected Lebanese spy was looking for Israeli MIAs
Beirut's al-Akhbar newspaper alleges that political activist recently arrested on espionage charges was trying to find out what became of three IDF soldiers missing since 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub
Could one of the men arrested recently by Lebanese security forces on suspicion of spying for Israel, have been looking for IDF soldiers missing since 1982?
According to a Monday report in Beirut's al-Akhbar newspaper, Ziad al-Humsi – a political activist and a former spokesman for slain Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's al-Mustaqbal party, who was arrested Saturday – confessed to working for Israeli intelligence.
Crackdown
Roee Nahmias
Lebanese security forces arrest member of slain Premier Hariri's party for allegedly cooperating with Israeli intelligence. Party denies any connection to suspect
One of his primary missions was apparently trying to find out what had become of IDF staff sergeants Zachary Baumel, Yehuda Katz and Tzvi Feldman, who have been missing since the Battle of Sultan Yacoub, fought between Syria and Israel during the 1982 Lebanon War.
Humsi allegedly began investigating the matter, under the pretence of writing a book about the battle.
The paper also alleged that during the interrogation, Humsi revealed that he had disposed of one of the communication devices given to him by his Israeli handlers, and gave a location Lebanese security forces are now following up on.
The past few weeks have seen numerous "spy rings" uncovered in Lebanon, in wake of the nearing general elections. The so-called discoveries are part of Hizbullah's attempts to prove to the Lebanese public that Israel is still a security threat to the country.
