(IsraelNN.com) United Nations Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) may have been involved in arresting Lebanese citizens suspected of spying for Israel. The story was reported Thursday by Spanish media and by Israel's Channel 10 news.

Channel 10 obtained video footage in which a Spanish UNIFIL commander states that his troops worked with Lebanese troops to arrest alleged spies for Israel in primarily Shiite Muslim areas. The taped conversation allegedly took place two days ago.

If the accusations of UNIFIL involvement are true, it would represent a serious breach of protocol for the force. UNIFIL has been charged with ensuring that Hizbullah does not rebuild its weapons supplies – a task at which it has failed, according to Israeli intelligence experts and to Hizbullah itself – but has not been authorized to take part in internal Lebanese affairs or in other military operations.

Spanish officials have denied involvement in the Lebanese spy affair. Rumors that Spanish troops were involved were based on “misunderstanding,” they said Thursday.

Lebanese troops have arrested more than 30 people accused of spying for Israel in recent weeks, and have issued arrest warrants for more than 20 more. According to Lebanese sources, two of the alleged spies managed to flee to Israel.

Israel has not responded to reports that its spies were arrested in Lebanon. Some Israeli analysts have suggested that the campaign to arrest “spies” is actually a campaign of political repression. The campaign began shortly before Lebanon's recent elections, in which the current ruling coalition maintained its majority.