Lebanon condemns four alleged Israel spies to death

A Lebanese military court on Wednesday sentenced to death a first sergeant in the country's Internal Security Forces charged with spying on behalf of Israel.

The soldier's wife, sister, and brother-in-law were also given death sentences. The latter two reside in Israel, according to Lebanese reports.

The suspects were convicted of conspiring with Israel, establishing contacts with its agents and espionage with the intent of arranging an attack on Lebanon.

Last spring, Lebanon arrested close to 20 alleged members of six espionage cells suspected of transmitting intelligence information to Israel. The two-month crackdown was apparently aided by American training and equipment.

According to Hezbollah-controlled Al-Manar television, the suspects' job was to collect information on potential targets such as the group's installations and the homes of its leaders.

Lebanese sources attributed the arrests to improved cooperation between Lebanon's many security agencies, saying that with the help of better-trained personnel and access to more sophisticated equipment, the Internal Security Forces have been intensifying their efforts to uncover espionage networks as part of an attempt to develop a pan-Lebanese image.

The Internal Security Forces have long been accused of representing the interests of Lebanese parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri, son of slain prime minister Rafik Hariri, and his supporters.

The United States has provided $1 billion in aid since 2006, including $410 million in security assistance to the Lebanese military and police. But U.S. officials have said they would review aid to Lebanon depending on the results of the June 7 election, which could oust the U.S.-backed government.

Israel has expressed reservations about American aid to the Lebanese army and security services, saying those organizations will ultimately be unable to contend with Hezbollah and that any aid is liable to serve Hezbollah's interests