Israeli police and the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency have announced the arrest of a network of Israeli citizens accused of espionage for Iran. This group is believed to have provided sensitive information about military bases and conducted surveillance on various individuals over the past two years.
The suspects, including two minors, reportedly collected and photographed data on several key Israeli military sites, such as the Kirya defense headquarters in Tel Aviv, as well as the Nevatim and Ramat David airbases. Notably, Nevatim was targeted by two Iranian missile attacks this year, while Ramat David has also faced threats from Hezbollah.
State prosecutors characterized this investigation as one of the most significant security cases in recent years, with police claiming the group undertook around 600 missions within the two-year timeframe. The individuals arrested are said to be Jewish immigrants from Azerbaijan residing in the Haifa area, and they are expected to face charges of aiding an enemy during wartime.
The arrests follow the apprehension of an Israeli businessman in September, who allegedly traveled to Iran to discuss plans for assassinating key Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
According to reports, the suspects received substantial payments, amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars, from Russian intermediaries and in cryptocurrencies. Three suspects were caught while photographing sensitive sites in southern Israel, and authorities discovered numerous documents detailing their activities.
Investigators stated that the group operated under the direction of two Iranian intelligence agents known as "Alkhan" and "Orkhan." They were aware that the intelligence they gathered posed a threat to national security and could facilitate missile attacks against Israel.
The network allegedly conducted extensive reconnaissance on IDF bases across the country, focusing on critical assets such as air force and navy installations, ports, Iron Dome locations, and energy infrastructure like the Hadera power plant. The operation included photographing strategic sites and transmitting the information to their Iranian handlers using advanced equipment.
Police officer Yaron Binyamin described the organized nature of the operation, noting that the suspects maintained detailed records indicating the locations to photograph, the information required, and the payment structure. Their missions involved traveling to specific sites, setting up equipment, and using encrypted software to send the collected images to Iran.
Additionally, the arrested individuals were tasked with conducting surveillance on certain Israeli citizens at the request of Iranian agents. Some were apprehended while trying to gather information on an Israeli citizen living near them, raising concerns about potential Iranian plans to harm this person.
These arrests highlight the complexities of intelligence operations in Israel, revealing that Iran and its affiliates are also actively conducting espionage within the country. Israeli state attorneys have suggested that further investigations into similar cases may be underway.
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