BEIRUT: An Egyptian man living in Lebanon has confessed to spying for Israel after he and his Lebanese wife were arrested over the weekend.

The couple, who have lived in Hasbaya, southeast Lebanon for 20 years according to As-Safir newspaper, had been under surveillance for some time, a statement from the Internal Security Forces said Monday.

The man, identified by As-Safir as Ibrahim S., confessed to working with Israeli intelligence since 1999, according to the ISF statement, and said he had entered Israel three times.

He also confessed that his wife knew he had been working with Israeli intelligence.

Authorities discovered what they said were spying and communication devices, including a cellphone with an Israeli SIM card inside Ibrahim’s house.

As-Safir reported Monday that Ibrahim has worked at several laundries in Hasbaya, Beirut and border towns.

They said Ibrahim crossed into Israel during the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon and worked there over a substantial period of time.

Investigations are ongoing.