israeli spying network exposed in Lebanon

Six people accused of spying for Israel were arrested by the Lebanese Army during four separate raids. The suspects are believed to have provided Israel with information about Hezbollah's members and their movements. Advanced communication devices were found in the possession of the suspects.

The arrests were described by senior Lebanese officials as a major blow to Israel's spying networks in Lebanon. The suspects are said to have had a crucial role in the identification of the Hezbollah targets bombed during the 2006 war. Moreover, other suspects have been accused of monitoring senior Hezbollah officials and are alleged to have played a role in the assassination of the commander of the group in 2004.

While Israel refused to comment on the arrests, Hezbollah figures have called for the death penalty for all suspects convicted of spying. Lebanese arrests had begun in April 2009, and involved a former brigadier general of the General Security Directorate.

Arrests ranged from a garage owner who supplied Hezbollah with vehicles secretly fitted with tracking devices, to a retired Lebanese army general who ran a housecleaning service. While some of the arrested personnel have been recruited during the 2006 war, some are said to have been spying form Israel since the 80s.

The incident comes as a continuation to the saga of intelligence mishaps suffered by Israel, triggered last month by the Murder of Hamas' figure in Dubai under claims of Israeli involvement.