State Security members on patrol. Pho
Two Syrian nationals suspected of working for Israel have been arrested in Lebanon, one in the north, in Zghorta, and the other in the Chouf, in Deir el-Qamar, according to announcements made on Thursday.
A source within the Lebanese State Security confirmed to L'Orient Today the arrest of a Syrian national suspected of working for Israeli intelligence in Zghorta in northern Lebanon. The arrest took place three days ago on "suspicion of contact" with Israeli agents via social media, according to this source. The man has been handed over to the State Security intelligence services before being referred to justice. He is accused of photographing centers for displaced persons in Zghorta and hospitals, as well as being in contact with Israel, according to a statement.
On Thursday, the National News Agency (NNA) also reported that General Security arrested a Syrian national in Deir el-Qamar accused of collaborating with Israel. His mission was to locate and inspect sites after their bombardment. According to NNA, the individual had gone to the Chouf region after being injured in Beirut.
On Wednesday, the Lebanese army announced the arrest of two Syrians accused of being recruited by Israel via social media to send images of Lebanon. "Through surveillance operations of espionage networks and collaboration with the Israeli enemy, intelligence was able to arrest two Syrians who had photographed various sites, including the damage caused by enemy airstrikes and the operations to search for bodies," said the Army in a statement.
On Tuesday, a man claiming to be an investigative journalist was arrested in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Holding British and Israeli passports, he was expelled from Lebanon.
Lebanon and Israel, neighboring countries, are technically in a state of war. Lebanese law prohibits any contact with Israel, a crime punishable by imprisonment. At the end of 2022, Lebanese security forces claimed to have arrested 185 people suspected of "collaboration" with Israel since the beginning of Lebanon's economic collapse in 2019. In the past, dozens of individuals have been arrested for "collaboration" with Israel, with court decisions resulting in sentences of up to 25 years in prison.