Report: Hezbollah Member Arrested in South for Spying for Israel

Lebanese security authorities have detained Mahmoud Ayoub, a suspected member of Hezbollah, on accusations of cooperating with Israeli intelligence agencies. The arrest took place in the southern town of Harouf, located in the Nabatieh district, according to information reported by Al-Arabiya’s Al-Hadath channel on Monday.

Ayoub is identified as serving in a senior administrative position at a regional medical facility. Sources state that he functions as the financial director of the Ragheb Harb Hospital, an institution affiliated with Hezbollah and situated in the same district. The hospital is named after Sheikh Ragheb Harb, a key Hezbollah figure from the 1980s whose legacy remains influential in the region.

Investigation Conducted in Coordination with Hezbollah

The arrest was carried out by the Internal Security Forces’ Information Branch, Lebanon’s main intelligence and counterespionage division. Sources familiar with the matter confirmed that the operation was conducted in coordination with Hezbollah itself, suggesting internal cooperation in addressing potential breaches of loyalty within its ranks.

Details regarding the nature of the alleged collaboration between Ayoub and Israeli intelligence have not yet been officially disclosed. However, the case underscores the ongoing concerns within Lebanese security circles about infiltration attempts and internal vulnerabilities, particularly in areas with strategic or symbolic importance to Hezbollah.

The arrest follows a series of similar cases in recent years in which individuals affiliated with Lebanese political or military organizations have been investigated or prosecuted for alleged ties to Israeli intelligence services. Lebanon and Israel remain in a formal state of conflict, and any suspected collaboration is treated as a serious national security offense under Lebanese law.

Further developments are expected as the investigation progresses, with security agencies reportedly examining Ayoub’s communications, financial transactions, and possible contact networks. No official statement has been released by the Lebanese government or Hezbollah regarding the arrest as of this writing.