Lebanese colonel charged with spying

A Lebanese prosecutor has charged an army colonel with spying for Israel and referred him to a military court, security sources said.

Colonel Gazwan Shahin was arrested a few months ago and was the fourth officer arrested on suspicion of espionage since last year, Reuters reported on Friday.

A security source said Shahin provided Israeli intelligence agents pictures, information, and coordinates of civilian sites and military posts during and after Israel’s 33-day war against Lebanon in 2006.

An investigation into Israel’s espionage activities in Lebanon has led to more than 50 arrests since last year, and over 20 have been formally charged.

The arrests have dealt a major blow to Israel’s spy network in Lebanon.

One of the detained suspects confessed to having helped in the assassination of a Hezbollah commander in 2004.

Israel has not commented on the arrests.