Two Lebanese Arabs and a Palestinian Authority Arab have been arrested as Israeli spies in southern Lebanon, according to Arab news reports.
The three were seized at their homes in Sidon early Saturday, according to Arab news reports.
Lebanese security officials were quoted as saying they were searching for a fourth suspected member of the alleged “cell linked to the Israeli Mossad” spy ring.
According to the report, the PA Arab was allegedly a cousin of Abdul Rahman Awad, believed to be the leader of the Fatah al-Islam terrorist group after the death of Shaker Abssi.
A spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry had little to say about the arrests, other than to note that “as far as we know, they are not Israeli citizens."
Lebanese military prosecutor Saqr Saqr said the three were accused of passing sensitive information to Israel about military and civilian installations in Lebanon and Syria.
Lebanese government security agent Joseph Semaan al-Alam, along with his uncle, retired Lebanese Brigadier General Adib al-Alam, and the general’s wife, Hayat Saloumi, were charged on Thursday with spying for Israel.
The general, who was arrested earlier in the week, allegedly provided information during interrogation that led to the arrests of the three suspects on Saturday.
Arab news reports noted that Lebanese government officials recently intensified a campaign to silence residents who quietly oppose the growing political power of the Hizbullah terrorist organization by gathering information on the group for Israel.
Dozens of people have been arrested in Egypt on charges of spying for the Iranian-backed Hizbullah terrorist organization, and spies working for Hamas terrorists were sentenced earlier this month in Jordan as well.