A widening Israeli spy scandal has become a nightmare for Lebanon’s Hezbollah, with the threat it poses rivaling that of the Israeli military campaign targeting the group and its support base.
Investigations into 21 detainees have revealed that many of the alleged agents were closely linked to Hezbollah commanders and operatives.
Their espionage activities are believed to have provided Mossad with the intelligence needed to assassinate dozens of Hezbollah leaders, most recently the son of a senior commander, identified as Mohammad Saleh, described by sources as one of the most dangerous informants and possibly the one responsible for the largest number of targeted killings.
21 Detained So Far for Alleged Collaboration with Israel
The number of arrests continues to rise. A judicial source told Asharq al-Awsat that 21 people are currently in custody in connection with the case.
“The manhunt is ongoing and has led to more suspects being identified,” the source said, noting that Israeli intelligence has shifted tactics, opting for the individual recruitment of agents rather than operating through traditional spy networks.
“This change in approach has made it harder to dismantle spy rings using prior counter-intelligence methods from the days of Lebanon’s so-called security war with Israel.”
Rumors have circulated about the arrests of prominent social media figures, including a well-known Lebanese TikToker reportedly close to Hezbollah, on charges of collaborating with Israel.
However, a security source dismissed these claims as exaggerated, telling Asharq al-Awsat that “while an extensive intelligence operation is underway, many of the circulating reports are inflated and not based in fact. That said, it remains possible that more suspects could be detained at any time.”
The source confirmed that Lebanon’s major intelligence branches, including the Internal Security Forces’ Information Branch, Military Intelligence, and General Security, have ramped up surveillance to monitor suspicious activity both domestically and abroad.
Shock in Hezbollah Stronghold as Residents Demand Execution of Spies
The scandal has shaken Hezbollah’s core support base in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Outraged residents recently erected a mock gallows in a public square, demanding the execution of collaborators.
Political analyst and Janoubia news site publisher Ali Al-Amin, a vocal critic of Hezbollah, told Asharq al-Awsat the case reveals “a deep infiltration of Hezbollah’s environment.”
He said the group’s ideology and indoctrination tactics have “left the community vulnerable and unbalanced,” making it easier for individuals to justify cooperation with Israel.
“The display of a noose in the heart of Dahiyeh is an attempt to signal that collaboration is the exception, not the norm,” Al-Amin said.
“But the rhetoric of accusing others of treason has ironically created an atmosphere where internal betrayal flourishes. Many are lured into collaboration, perhaps without fully grasping its gravity, driven by disillusionment and ideological fatigue within the Shiite community.”
The arrest of Saleh, son of a senior commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Unit, sent shockwaves through the group.
Saleh, whose brother died fighting Israeli forces, had reportedly gained intimate access to Hezbollah's military leadership. For over a week, investigators questioned him about his role in leaking sensitive data, and the picture that has emerged is deeply troubling.
A judicial source said Saleh is believed to be the most dangerous operative caught since the onset of the Israel-Gaza war.
“His proximity to key figures enabled him to relay accurate coordinates and sensitive information that led to the assassination of senior Hezbollah members,” the source said.
“Among them was Hassan Bdeir, Hezbollah’s coordinator for Palestinian affairs, and his son Ali, both killed in a drone strike that hit their home in Beirut’s southern suburb of Hay al-Jamous on March 29.”
The source added that Saleh even went so far as to inform the Israelis of the names of officials set to replace assassinated commanders. He would often photograph himself with senior party figures, some of whom were later killed, and transmit the images to his handlers.
The Military Court's Government Commissioner, Judge Fadi Akiki, formally indicted Saleh on charges of “collaborating with the Israeli enemy, conspiring with it, and supplying it with information that resulted in civilian deaths.”
The charges carry penalties of up to the death sentence under Lebanese law. Saleh’s case was referred to the First Military Investigative Judge, Fadi Sawan, who was asked to interrogate the suspect and issue a formal arrest warrant.
The arrest of Saleh has become a key development in what officials now describe as a growing espionage crisis.
According to a judicial source, Saleh’s detention brings the total number of individuals held for allegedly spying for Israel to 21. The group includes 13 Lebanese nationals, six Syrians, and two Palestinians, all currently undergoing interrogation sessions before military investigative judges.
“This case is far from isolated,” the source told Asharq al-Awsat. “The wave of arrests began shortly after the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel came into effect and has since snowballed.”
The source noted that several of the accused were recruited by Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency during the ongoing conflict, particularly after October 8, 2023 when Hezbollah opened a second front in support of Gaza.
“Some of those arrested were recruited during the war, while others were contacted before hostilities broke out,” the source added.
