Lebanese security forces detain journalist on suspicion of spying for Israel

Lebanon’s security forces have arrested a Lebanese journalist, who used to work for a number of Lebanese and international media outlets, on suspicion of collaborating with the Israeli regime.

According to a report published by the Arabic-language al-Modon online newspaper on Saturday, the Lebanese national, identified as H. Muzahem, was in contact with the “Israeli enemy” since 2018.

He was arrested by members of the Intelligence Division of the Internal Security Forces waiting for the completion of technical and security investigations into his case.

Al-Modon, citing informed sources speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that his case has been referred to the military tribunal for prosecution.

Muzahem had been working in the media for more than twenty years and had written articles for the Beirut-based and Arabic-language al-Mustaqbal newspaper, which is affiliated to the Future Movement led by former Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri, as well as other Arab newspapers, magazines, and foreign media outlets.

He had also worked as a researcher into Israeli affairs, and penned research papers on political issues and international crises.

Last month, Lebanon’s security forces arrested a professional Lebanese photographer for spying for the Mossad spy agency by collecting sensitive information and taking pictures of high-profile resistance figures residing in the Arab country.

In May, reported that the woman, identified as Layal Ramadan, was in close contact with Israeli officials between 2021 and 2022.

She shot photographs and videos of a house in the Tariq al-Jadideh neighborhood of Beirut, which apparently accommodated a senior leader of the Gaza-based Hamas resistance movement.

Ramadan also took pictures of houses of Hezbollah members in Dahiyeh, the southern suburbs of Beirut, and sent them to Israeli agents later on.

The report added that the photographer received 50 dollars for each of her espionage missions.

Lennon’s intelligence agency arrested the woman on April 5 on suspicion of collaborating with the Israeli regime, and it was found after careful investigations and interrogations that the photographer had sent hundreds of pictures and videos from different areas in Lebanon to Israeli authorities.

The report said that the woman’s connection with the Mossad spy agency has been conclusively proven.

She was tried in a military court and handed down a long jail term.