Additional information emerged on Tuesday on the suspected Israeli agent in Lebanon. 56 year old Charbel Qazzi, a technician for the Alfa mobile phone network, was arrested by the Lebanese Army Intelligence last week. Alfa is one of two provide mobile phone and telecommunications network in Lebanon.
"He is a manager and technician for this very specific sort of technology, which unfortunately makes him almost the perfect spy for the enemy," a Lebanese military intelligence officer said. "You know how everyone would joke that it was assumed the Israelis could listen to anyone's mobile calls?" the military intelligence officer asked. "Well, we can stop laughing and assuming, because they can."
According to As-Safir newspaper, Qazzi planted Israeli software and chips allowing Israeli intelligence experts to modify the data and allow them to read and receive information from Lebanon. "The field of work Charbel [works in] is one of the most important areas of the Israeli intelligence" at penetrating mobile phones and provides "them opportunity to tamper with data...especially in the section where he works," As-Safir reported.
Qazzi's work allowed Israel to track, monitor and eavesdrop on users through their mobile phones. This enabled Israel "to control the traffic in the company and manipulate it to serve its objectives and plans."
Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji said that Lebanese security forces have arrested two other men on charges of assisting Qazzi. Qazzi has since confessed that he had planted Israeli chips into Alfa's broadcasting stations, allowing the Jewish State to manipulate data in any contact lines.
Qazzi's arrest is the latest in a string of arrests of people accused of collaborating with Israel. Convicted spies face life in prison or the death penalty.
