Lebanon: Israeli spying cell busted

[Scurrilous]

Assafir newspaper reports Lebanese authorities caught members of Lebanese nationals spying for Israel; says cell member reportedly admitted to role in assassination of two senior Islamic Jihad members in Sidon

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3262100,00.html

<snip>

"The Lebanese intelligence services uncovered "one of the most prominent Israeli cells operating in Lebanon since 1990," the Beirut-based daily Assafir reported Monday.

The report comes two days after authorities said they arrested a man believed to have masterminded the assassination of a senior Islamic Jihad commander and with links to Israeli intelligence."

<snip>

"Mohammad Rafeh, 59, of the southern Lebanese town of Hassbaya, was under surveillance for ten days after the assassination.

Authorities confiscated Rafeh's computer which they believe contains information that could link Rafeh to Israeli elements.

A senior intelligence official told Assafir that Rafeh admitted he had planned and carried out the assassination of the Majzoub brothers and to other operations targeting Hizbullah officials."

[Englander]

1. Lebanese man confesses to killing on Israeli orders

By Lin Noueihed

BEIRUT, June 13 (Reuters) - A Lebanese man has confessed to assassinating a series of senior Hizbollah and Palestinian guerrillas over a seven-year period on behalf of Israeli intelligence, the Lebanese Army said on Tuesday.

It said Mahmoud Rafeh, arrested along with three others last week in connection with the May 26 killing of two Islamic Jihad officials, was a leading member of a "terrorist network" behind at least three other major assassinations in Lebanon.

"Investigations by military intelligence showed that the terrorist network that was discovered had links to the Israeli Mossad for several years and that its members underwent training both inside Israel and outside," the army statement said.

"The network was tasked by this agency with carrying out these operations and was given secret communication and monitoring devices for this purpose along with detailed maps of the target ... forged documents and bags with secret pockets."

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L13762503.htm

[Poll_Blind]

2. Still unfolding...

It will be interesting to see what is revealed.

PB

[Scurrilous]

3. Lebanon says IAF detonated car bomb which killed 2 Palestinians

<snip>

"An Israeli aircraft detonated the car bomb that killed two officials of Palestinian militant group in south Lebanon last month, Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Murr said Thursday.

The government has decided to complain to the UN Security Council about Israeli attacks in Lebanon, Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said following a Cabinet meeting that heard the defense minister's report.

Murr briefed the Cabinet on the May 26 car bombing that killed Mahmoud Majzoub, a senior Islamic Jihad official, and his brother as they walked out of their home in the southern city of Sidon. Both men were Lebanese citizens."

<snip>

"On Saturday, the Lebanese army said it had arrested Mahmoud Rafeh, 59, a retired police officer, for the killing of the Majzoubs. Rafeh "had links to Israeli intelligence," the army said in a statement.

On Tuesday, the army said Rafeh had confessed to killing the Majzoub brothers as well as to other operations - including the killing of officials of the militant Hezbollah group in 1999 and 2003, and the slaying of the son of Ahmed Jibril, leader of the radical Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, in 2002."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/727552.html

[Englander]

4. Lebanon to complain about Israel to U.N. - PM

BEIRUT, June 17 (Reuters) - Lebanon will complain to the United Nations about Israel after a Lebanese man confessed to killing Hizbollah and Palestinian guerrillas on the orders of Israeli intelligence, the prime minister said on Saturday.

"We consider this as an act of aggression (by Israel)," Fouad Siniora told reporters.

"We are working on the file and once it is completed we will submit a complaint to the United Nations Security Council."

Lebanese military intelligence arrested Mahmoud Rafeh and three other suspects last week in connection with a May 26 car bombing that killed two Islamic Jihad officials.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L17714362.htm