US and Israel Reportedly Target Lebanon’s Jamaa Islamiya

U.S. and Israeli intelligence services are currently attempting to penetrate the Lebanese Jamaa Islamiya group, particularly its Fajr Forces, due to its strong ties with the Hamas Movement and its burgeoning relationship with Hezbollah, according to well-informed sources.

These sources disclosed to al-Akhbar newspaper that the primary goal behind the close surveillance of Jamaa Islamiya leaders linked to the military faction of Hamas is to ultimately gain access to the military leadership of both Hamas and Hezbollah through these connections. This effort was highlighted by an incident reported on Sunday in the West Bekaa town of Swaira, where an Israeli drone targeted Jamaa Islamiya’s official, Mohammad Assaf. Assaf survived the strike, but the Syrian driver of his vehicle did not.

Assaf is reportedly closely associated with the military arm of Hamas.

Al-Akhbar also noted that Western intelligence, with assistance from allied Arab intelligence services possessing networks within Lebanon, is gathering information on Jamaa Islamiya’s members and leaders who have connections to various resistance movements.

Furthermore, it was mentioned that U.S. intelligence had approached a Jamaa member from Akkar, offering him $5 million for information that could lead to Hamas deputy chief Sheikh Saleh al-Arouri. Al-Arouri was killed in an Israeli operation in a Beirut suburb in early January.

Israeli intelligence is also reportedly collecting data on locations associated with Jamaa Islamiya and Hamas in Beirut and other regions, aiming to uncover their offices and residences.

Additionally, al-Akhbar reported that Lebanese Army intelligence had detained a group suspected of organizing an illegal migration operation by sea. Later, it was discovered that their actual intent was to transport supplies to Gaza and launch military strikes against Israeli targets, including a planned attack on the Port of Haifa.

Initially, the detainees claimed affiliation with Hezbollah, which was later denied by the group. It was eventually determined that they were members of Jamaa Islamiya. After about a month and a half in detention, they were released under the condition that they refrain from any such activities unless coordinated with the resistance (Hezbollah) or the army.