Spy ring 'shocks' Hezbollah
Kuwaiti newspaper claims members of alleged espionage ring discovered among Shiite group's ranks infiltrated top position within organization; had 'unimaginably' close ties with Israel
Following reports suggesting Hezbollah has arrested several of its own members on suspicion of syping for Israel, the Kuwaiti daily "Al-Rai al-Aam" reported Sunday that the Lebanese Shiite organization "was dumbfounded over the Israeli infiltration."
Reports claimed that one of the suspects is a relative of a senior Hezbollah official, while another detainee was the liaison between the organization, Iran and Syria.
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The Kuwaiti report stated that the number Hezbollah operatives believed to be linked to Israel at various posts within Hezbollah’s ranks "is more than 10 collaborators.”
The newspaper also claimed that many of the suspects hold senior positions within the organization's administration and that their contact with Israel "exceeds imagination."
The detainees, the report states, were uncovered during the past three months.
Al-Rai Al-Aam noted that the first piece of information leading to the arrests was obtained when Hezbollah intentionally leaked false intelligence on Israel in order to measure the response and "expose the enemy collaborators within the organization's ranks."
According to the report, "Israel was unable to hold back its response in this 'mind game' against Hezbollah, leading its agents right into the trap that exposed them."
In the past two years, Lebanese media outlets have published a slew of reports on the exposure and arrest of espionage networks that allegedly spied for Israel and attempted to obtain information on Hezbollah.
Experts estimate that at least some of the reports are meant to deter Lebanese citizens from cooperating with Israel.
Lebanese news agency reported that over the past two years, some of the suspects were accused of espionage and sentenced to death.
Just last week, Lebanon's new Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced the establishment of a new government in Beirut. Hezbollah holds18 of 30 portfolios in the 30-member cabinet lineup, which was announced five months after Mikati was named for the post.
It is unclear what effect, if any, the discovery of the alleged espionage network would have on Hezbollah's political operations in Beirut.
News agencies contributed to this report
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