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Conflict Incident Report

Suspected Israeli spy arrested

Date of incident: 
May 20, 2017
Death toll: 
0persons
Number of Injured: 
0persons
Actors/Parties Involved: 
General Security
Iraqi Civilians

General Security apprehended an Israeli spy tasked with creating an intelligence network in Lebanon. The Iraqi national identified by his initials M.Y is suspected of communicating with and gathering information for Israel.

Upon questioning, M.Y told officers that he had been recruited by an officer from TASA ELITE, which follows the Israeli Ministry of War, and actively conducts foreign operations in Arab countries. He said that TASA ELITE organizes assassinations, trains assassins and asked him to bring security information about the Lebanese Army and Officials. He added that he had been tasked with recruiting others to build a network of spies in Lebanon.

The suspect gave his Israeli contact his brother’s information, who was tasked with similar jobs in Iraq.

In January, an Israeli reconnaissance drone allegedly crashed in south Lebanon.

Israel regularly carries out surveillance operations over Lebanese territory using drones and regular aircraft. These overflights could be used to measure terrain and identify targets for attack.

In 2015, three people were arrested for allegedly spying for the Israeli army, and confessed to gathering information on specific security officials in Lebanon, while taking pictures and videos of “sensitive” areas in the south and sending them to the Israeli army.

This security incident was mapped according to the closest possible location.
Primary category: 
Arrest/Detention
Classification of conflict (primary): 
Border conflicts (Israeli border)
Violations, disputes and/or conflicts instigated by Israeli intrusions on Lebanese national territories, airspace, and territorial waters. While there currently is no Israeli military occupation on Lebanese soil, these events are classified as violations of Lebanese sovereignty and are indicative of the continuous tensions between Lebanon and Israel.
Classification of conflict(secondary):
Power & governance conflicts
Violent or non-violent conflicts associated with antagonisms related to internal political tensions between local and/or national groups and parties. These tensions may be encouraged by internal, regional and international parties. Such conflicts are characterized by their defiance and/or opposition to central State power and governance.