'Spying device' found in Lebanon in December
Lebanon claims to have uncovered Israeli spy cell
Media reports in the country say 5 people suspected of espionage were arrested and confessed to accusations levelled against them including, inter alia, transferring intelligence to Israel during telephone conversation with various Israeli embassies.
Lebanese security forces announced Wednesday afternoon that they exposed and captured a spy cell working for the Israeli security services.
According to reports in Lebanese newspapers, five members of the cell were arrested in Lebanese territory, two of whom were said to have been born in the country.
One of the suspects is alleged to be a Palestinian refugee while two others are believed to be from Nepal.
According to the reports, the cell confessed during an investigation to suspicions levelled against them which included, inter alia, accusations that they held telephone conversations with people affiliated with the Israeli embassies in Turkey, Jordan, Britain and Nepal.
'Israeli spying device' found in Lebanon in December
During these alleged conversations, the suspects are believed to have transferred information to Israeli officials.
The five suspects are set to be arraigned as authorities attempt to make further arrests in the case.
Lebanon has recently reported on a number of occasions wherevy civilians that have been arrested in the country on suspicion of espionage on Israel’s behalf.
For instance, three suspects were said to have been arrested for such clandestine activities in November 2015.
According to a state news agency, a Syrian man and his Lebanese wife were arrested along with another Lebanese civilian. All three were said to have confessed to the accusations against them.
In March last year, Hezbollah's al-Manar TV station reported that a transmission and photographic spy device was discovered on the Israel-Lebanon border, which the station said belonged to Israel.
According to the report, the device was found near the Blue Line and not far from a Lebanese army post and airstrip in the village of Markaba.
