Two Lebanese citizens suspected of spying for Israel have fled the country and crossed the heavily fortified border into Israel, a senior Lebanese security official said Monday.

The official said the men, one of them a 49-year-old mathematics teacher, sneaked into Israel Monday morning through a gate at the border fence near Kibbutz Bar Am. Each man was accompanied by two of his children, according to the official.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations.

Fifteen members of an alleged spy ring, including retired Lebanese general Adib Alam, were recently arrested by Lebanese authorities on suspicion of passing information to Israel.

Lebanon considers itself at war with Israel, and spying for or collaborating with the country can be punishable by death.

Lebanese media reported that the government had asked UNIFIL to act for the return of the escapees.

Meanwhile, Hizbullah's Al Manar news network reported that three suspected spies had actually escaped, naming them as Ali Taufik, Ali al-Hayek and Hana al-Ka'azi. According to the report, two of the suspects' cars were found abandoned near the Israeli border.