Lebanon has reportedly arrested 185 people suspected of collaborating with Israel since 2019, at the start of the country’s economic crisis.
“This is the first time that so many people have been arrested on charges of collaborating with Israel, and it’s because of the crisis,” said a security source from AFP.
Lebanon’s economic crisis has led to the devaluation of the Lebanese Lira and the hyperinflation of products, as well as increased poverty and unemployment.
The Israeli spy agency would allegedly target Lebanese on social media and offer them job opportunities.
Only three of those detained since 2019 were allegedly working with Israel before the crisis, while 165 of the 185 have so far been prosecuted, and 25 have been tried and sentenced.
At the end of November, Lebanese Security Forces arrested a Lebanese man suspected of allegedly spying for Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency.
