JERUSALEM (JWN and agencies)–Dozens of CIA agents were captured recently in Lebanon and Iran, current and former US officials told The Associated Press and ABC News on Monday.

According to ABC News, two separate espionage rings targeted Iran and Hezbollah using spies recruited by the CIA.Dozens of CIA agents were captured recently in Lebanon and Iran, current and former US officials told The Associated Press and ABC News on Monday.

The officials said the rings’ capture caused a significant setback in US efforts to track Iran’s nuclear activities and Hezbollah actions against Israel.

In a bizarre aspect of the intelligence fiasco, ABC reported that the CIA used the codeword “Pizza” when discussing where to meet with its informants. Officials said CIA case officers met several Lebanese informants at a local Beirut Pizza Hut branch, which helped Hezbollah identify the spies.

US officials denied that the CIA agents were compromised at Pizza Hut.