The Times also claimed that Lebanese military officials had leaked information to Hezbollah [Getty]
The Lebanese army denied on Monday allegations published by a British daily claiming that a senior army official had leaked security information to Hezbollah.
The army strongly rejected the claims made by The Times in a Sunday report which alleged that the head of the military intelligence unit in southern Lebanon had shared classified information.
The army statement said the allegations against the military and its personnel had come at a critical time when the Lebanese army was “undertaking significant responsibilities” and deploying on the southern border in line with the ceasefire deal agreed between Hezbollah and Israel.
“The officers of the military institution carry out their duties across various units with the highest levels of professionalism and competence in line with orders from their leadership,” the statement said.
The Times published a report written by its Israel-based correspondent citing “unnamed sources”, alleging that Suhil Bahij Gharb, the chief of military intelligence for southern Lebanon, had reportedly shared intelligence from inside a security control room operated by US, French and UN officials tasked with overseeing the ceasefire.
The Times also claimed that other Lebanese military officials had leaked information to Hezbollah. It said that the move had jeopardised the truce, which came into effect on 27 November, ending a 13-month-long cross-border exchanges between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
The New Arab has contacted The Times to ask whether it had independently verified the sources cited in its report.
The report’s publication coincided with a violent day in southern Lebanon, as the Israeli army violated the ceasefire agreement by refusing to withdraw its forces by the agreed deadline and instead opened fire on displaced Lebanese citizens attempting to return to their homes.
The Lebanese army accused Israeli forces of violating the agreement, “blatantly refusing to comply and withdraw from Lebanese territory, and continuing to target military personnel and civilians, resulting in numerous casualties”, according to a statement.
At least 24 people were killed by Israeli fire on Sunday, including six women and a Lebanese soldier. More than 134 people were injured, among them 14 women and 12 children, as they attempted to return to their homes in border villages and towns.
