Lebanese military courts continue investigations of spy network
A Lebanese military court has indicted 17 persons for establishing a network aimed at destabilizing the country through carrying out explosions and assassinating political and security figures. 77 people are implicated in the network, although only 17 are currently in custody.
In a statement released on Thursday, Lebanese military prosecutor Nasri Lahoud said that members of the network are affiliated to the banned Lebanese Forces organization. He indicated that the suspects carried out several terrorist acts. He added that they have been preparing for other operations in coordination with other "Lebanese Forces" members in Australia.
The statement added that investigations revealed that members of the network had contacted a member of the Israeli-allied South Lebanon Army militia in the occupied part of south Lebanon to obtain weapons. The statement added that the network members had planned to assassinate Lebanese Deputy Premier and Minister of the Interior Michel Murr and Lebanese Minister of Water and Electricity Resources Elei Hubeika and another non-civil figure through carrying out terrorist operations.
The statement said, according to the country's law, members of the network will be sentenced to death. Lahoud received from the intelligence department of the Lebanese army on Thursday names of 11 detained persons. Last Thursday a Lebanese security source announced the arrest of the "destruction network" whose members belong to dismantled Lebanese Forces.
Two members of the network, Nimeh Zeyadeh and George Deib, were killed during their attempt to transport an explosive charge to plant it on the road where on June 19, Minister Murr was to pass in an eastern suburb of Beirut.
Lahoud submitted the investigation file to the military judge Riad Tlei' to sentence members of the network.
Meanwhile, members of the Israeli Knesset Ajdoun Ezra who was former chief of the Israeli intelligence in the northern area expressed regret that the Lebanese security forces discovered a spy network working for Israel. Interviewed by the Israeli army radio on Thursday, Ezra added it is difficult to believe an Israeli spy network of that size, a matter which indicates failure in planning and implementation, alike.
He said he doubted what he termed the "loyalty" of South Lebanon Army elements to Israel. He noted, in this respect, that one of the double-agents had destroyed several months earlier one Israeli building near al-Matalleh settlement. Ezra asked the Israeli security men to monitor SLA elements and to follow up on their activities. He also demanded not to stop espionage acts against Lebanon. "By now Israel has to have planted another espionage network," Ezra said.