Lebanese army chief exposed for leaking secrets to Hezbollah during ceasefire

A Lebanese army chief leaked military secrets to the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group during the ceasefire period with Israel, Britain's The Times reported citing intelligence sources, and the Jerusalem Post independently confirmed.

The head of military intelligence for southern Lebanon, Suhil Bahij Gharb, reportedly handed Hezbollah classified and sensitive information while in a room run by the US, France, and the UN interim force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a source claimed.

Publicizing such a revelation highlights Israel’s case of concerns about the Lebanese army-Hezbollah connection and emboldens Israel’s case to remain in Lebanon according to the February 18 extension announced by the Trump administration, which Lebanon agreed to, but which Hezbollah has denounced.

Many global intelligence agencies, including the US, France, other European agencies, Israel, and other Middle Eastern intelligence agencies operate in Lebanon and can leak information to the global media. 

Where Israel is concerned, although the Mossad according to its mission is responsible for most Israeli intelligence collection and counter-intelligence world-wide, it is public knowledge dating back to the 1982 First Lebanon War that IDF intelligence and the Shin Bet are more heavily involved in Lebanon than in other foreign countries.  

Terrorists notified of Israeli searches

Despite Gharb’s alleged willingness to provide the terror group information, the source claimed Gharb had been placed responsible for peacekeeping.

Gharb, according to a report seen by The Times, is only one of dozens of military officials who have allegedly leaked information to Hezbollah. His presence in the security room was reportedly prompted by senior Hezbollah commander Wafiq Safa, who insisted on his presence.

The information granted to Hezbollah has reportedly given them advance notice of Israeli searches - allowing the terrorists to relocate personnel and weapons.

The intelligence document stated, “Hezbollah uses internal, sensitive information regarding the Lebanese army to hide its actions from the international entities in charge of regional security.”

“The fact that the top echelon of the military maintains close ties with the US does not prevent co-operation between army officers, even on an individual basis, with Hezbollah,” Hilal Khashan, a professor of political science at the American University of Beirut, told the British paper. “Hezbollah’s survival hinges not on maintaining a military presence in the south but preserving the gains accrued to it in the Lebanese political system during the past three decades. Hezbollah’s operatives in the south Litani are local Shia residents, and I do not think Israel can force relocating them to the north [of the] Litani.”

Both UNIFIL and the Lebanese army were tasked with ensuring that Hezbollah does not cross into southern territories in Lebanon - specifically south of the Litani River, which is relatively close to Israel's border.

Hezbollah launched thousands upon thousands of attacks on Israel from October 8, 2023 until November 27, 2024. Hezbollah’s attacks came a day after its fellow Iran-backed terror group raided southern Israel and massacred some 1200 people. Documents found by the IDF operating in Lebanon suggested that Hezbollah had been planning for a similar style attack - even scoping out specific targets in the Jewish state.

The terror group and Israel agreed on a temporary ceasefire, halting more than a year of conflict. Experts are reportedly concerned that the new information, in addition to Hezbollah's breaches of the agreement, will lead to a continuation of hostilities.