UPDATED ON:
Sunday, November 02, 2008
09:22 Mecca time, 06:22 GMT
 
News Middle East
Lebanon detains 'Israeli spies'

Two people accused of spying for Israel have been arrested in Lebanon, the Lebanese army has said.

The army did not name the two detainees, who were arrested on Friday.

A statement released on Saturday by the army said: "The [army] Directorate of Intelligence, after a series of investigations in the Bekaa region, detained two people belonging to a network of espionage and terrorism linked to the Israeli enemy.

"They admitted gathering information on political party offices and monitoring the movements of party figures for this enemy."

"Communications devices and sophisticated cameras" were found in the possession of the accused, the statement said.

An army official declined further comment because of the continuing investigation.

Shia stronghold
  
The Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon is considered to be a stronghold of the Shia group Hezbollah.

Hezbollah and Israel fought a 34-day war in 2006 that left much of Lebanon's infrastructure destroyed and claimed the lives of more than 1,200 Lebanese, mainly civilians, and more than 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.

Israel, which also invaded Lebanon in 1982 and kept troops in a "security zone" in the south until May 2000, has been previously linked by security sources to assassinations of public figures.

In June 2006, the Lebanese army uncovered what it said was an Israel-linked network it accused of being behind the killing the  previous month of Mahmoud Majzoub, a senior Islamic Jihad leader, and his brother Nidal in a car bombing in the southern port city of Sidon.

 Source: Agencies
Feedback Number of comments : 5
 
Nick
United States
03/11/2008
"More guilty [of] peace not happening", and overreacting? What, kindof like the Arab world attacking Israel once founded, and seeking to "drive it into the sea", and then strapping bombs to themselves and blowing up other human beings? Man, if spying on hostile, belligerant countries harboring groups dedicated to murder and death is overreacting, what word possibly goes beyond "overreacting" that you label the Arabs as?

Shaun
Canada
03/11/2008
The world
I don't agree with the war and violence going on in this world, but at the same time I don't disagree with what Israel is doing. It is not up to the individual to say whether the Israel occupation is right or wrong. There is no right or wrong. And the law of the land only exists when those agree upon it.

christopher Lucy
United States
05/11/2008
Israeli spys in Lebanon
My mothers family came from Bekaa. I have visited Iran and if the Shia vote for Hezbolah thats their business,but there will be war.Lebanon is little less unjust than Israel. As for outside inteference and spying I understand but dont approve the penalty is death isnt it? unless something good can be had in return for them. Lebanon for all the Lebanese!

secretslave
United States
02/11/2008
Under the roof top or outside courtyard waiting
salaam, Lian can easily settle the disputed matter of ownership of a garden.

Achmat
Canada
03/11/2008
Israel at it again
israel strives for peace but they are more guilty than anyone at peace not happening watch them overreact and turn this situation on its head.

 
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