WASHINGTON (AP) — Current and former U.S. officials say the CIA’s operations in Lebanon have been badly damaged after Hezbollah identified and captured a number of U.S. spies recently.
The officials tell The Associated Press the intelligence debacle is particularly troubling because the CIA knew its spy network in Lebanon was vulnerable.
In June, Hezbollah’s leader boasted on television he had rooted out at least two CIA spies who had infiltrated the ranks of Hezbollah.
Though the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon officially denied the accusation at the time, current and former officials concede it happened and the damage has spread even further.
The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about security matters.
