Israel Matzav

American training and equipment being used to capture Israeli spies in Lebanon

Haaretz reports that some $1 billion in training and equipment that has been provided by the United States to Lebanon since 2006 has resulted in the capture of numerous Israeli spies in Lebanon.

Lebanon arrested five people over the weekend suspected of belonging to an intelligence cell transmitting information about Hezbollah to Israel, the most recent arrests in a two-month crackdown apparently aided by American training and equipment.

Al Jazeera TV broadcast images on Sunday of a small table containing hidden communication devices, a modem concealing transmission equipment and forged passports - all allegedly used by the suspects.

Hezbollah-controlled Al-Manar television reported that the suspects' job was to collect information on potential targets such as the group's installations and the homes of its leaders.

The suspects are among 17 people allegedly belonging to six espionage cells who have been arrested in Lebanon in the past two months on suspicion of transmitting intelligence information to Israel.

It is unclear, however, if the cells are connected. Lebanese security sources indicated that the coming days might see the arrest of other suspected intelligence agents working for Israel.

The sources attribute the recent arrests to improved cooperation between Lebanon's many security agencies, saying that with the help of better-trained personnel and access to more sophisticated equipment, the Internal Security Forces have been intensifying their efforts to uncover espionage networks as part of an attempt to develop a pan-Lebanese image.

Haaretz notes that US aid to Lebanon may be 'reviewed' in the event that Hezbullah wins the June 7 election there. Good luck with that.

Here's the al-Jazzera broadcast in English. Let's go to the videotape.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:33 PM