Lebanese-Canadian arrested for ‘spying for Israel’

BEIRUT

A Lebanese-Canadian dual national has been arrested in Beirut on suspicion of spying for Israel, Lebanese authorities said Tuesday.

According to a statement by the country's General Security Service, the 40-year-old suspect was arrested at the directive of the Office of Public Military Prosecution.

The move came within the framework of the prosecution's investigations into spying and efforts to dismantle spy cells, the statement said.

The suspect admitted during interrogation that he was recruited in 2013 by a fugitive Lebanese agent and commissioned to recruit Lebanese citizens with the ultimate goal of infiltrating the Lebanese Hezbollah group, it added.

He was also assigned to gather security information, especially regarding Israeli airman Ron Arad, who has been missing in Lebanon since 1986, the statement said.

Efforts are underway to arrest other suspects involved in the case, it added.

Writing by Mahmoud Barakat