Israel drops strange bodies in south Lebanon

Israeli air forces released unidentified shining parachute-like objects in Lebanon’s skies on Monday night, causing alarm in two southern villages, according to local press reports. Shining objects landed in houses and forests in the towns of Nmaireh and Zafta at approximately 10:30p.m. on Monday, stirring unease among the villagers. Lebanese security reports said some objects resembled gas bottles, which were connected to a lit parachute. While security forces continue to investigate the shiny items, their purpose remains to be known. A local daily said the Jewish state has recently been dropping similar objects on south Lebanon. Other papers described the odd bodies as an Israeli parachute or spy equipment. “The objects are part of Israel’s intelligence war in Lebanon,” one paper said.

This claim might not be entirely untrue, as Israel was reportedly “dealt its heaviest security blow yet in Lebanon”, which discovered in recent months a string of networks it accused of spying for the Jewish state. Some Israeli papers had said earlier that Israeli intelligence in Lebanon has been virtually “left in the dark” as a result. Some networks reportedly date back to 1982, when Israel invaded Lebanon. Lebanese authorities said they arrested at least 55 Lebanese, Palestinians, and Arabs of mixed nationalities on suspicion of involvement with Israel. Security forces say most of the detainees confessed to involvement with Israel. At least two senior army officers were also arrested on the same charge. Security forces displayed objects they said the Israelis used to spy on Lebanon, including small refrigerators and coolers.

This is not the first time Israel dumps odd objects in neighboring Lebanon, from where it withdrew in 2000. It has left some 4 million cluster munitions in the south during its war on militant group Hizbullah in July-August 2006, killing tens of civilians to date. While Tel Aviv handed over a cluster bombs map to Lebanon via the United Nations in May, Beirut said the map is incomplete.