Arab news outlets reported on Thursday that Hezbollah deployed an unusual number of forces in Beirut’s Dahieh quarter, conducting checks on passersby and residents. This comes against the backdrop of reports in Hezbollah-affiliated outlet Al-Akhbar, about the terror group uncovering an "Israeli spy ring" in Lebanon.
More stories:
The Arab World Press (AWP) news agency reported, citing eyewitnesses, that Hezbollah deployed its forces "on an unprecedented scale" in the Dahieh quarter, considered to be a stronghold of the Iran-backed terrorist organization in Lebanon.
A Witness added that the reason for the heightened security measures, including checking passersby in the streets, was unclear to him. According to the witness, Hezbollah terrorists were patrolling the area wearing black masks.
Saudi TV channel Al-Hadath also reported on the deployment of Hezbollah’s forces, saying its operatives were checking the identities of those passing through the area. Lebanese newspaper Annahar reported the deployment was part of "coordinated security measures," but didn’t specify the reason for the increased military presence.
According to Al-Akhbar, two individuals were arrested on allegations of collaborating with Israel and suspected of providing the country with details about various locations in Lebanon - including in Beirut and the Dahieh quarter. These allegedly included street names, buildings, shop names, license plates, information about people passing through the area and more.
Al-Akhbar also claimed the information provided by the two detainees served Israel to determine the locations of Hezbollah terrorists and gain their mobile information. One of the detainees, "surveyed the Dahieh area two weeks before the assassination of Saleh al-Arouri near the apartment where he was eliminated," according to the outlet. The detainees claimed to have acted for a company they didn’t know was linked to Israel.