Israeli security agencies announced on Monday, October 21st, that they have discovered and dismantled an Iranian spy ring operating in northern Israel, leading to the arrest of 7 Israeli citizens. The individuals are accused of spying for Iran.
Prosecutors stated that the suspects had carried out approximately 600 missions for Iran, including gathering intelligence on sensitive military and infrastructure locations, as well as identifying potential targets for Iran.
“This is one of the most serious cases we have investigated,” said Yaron Binyamin, head of the Israeli police’s Lahav 433 unit. “The main charges likely involve aiding the enemy during wartime, which can result in the death penalty or life imprisonment.”
“The scale and severity of these actions represent one of the most dangerous security vulnerabilities Israel faces,” the Israeli police said in a statement. “The criminal suspects engaged in deliberate criminal activities driven by monetary greed, jeopardizing the security of Israel and its citizens.”
These Israeli individuals reportedly interacted with two Iranian agents and were aware that the information they were passing on could pose a threat to the nation.
The suspects are accused of representing Iranian agents, filming and gathering information on Israeli Defense Forces bases and facilities, including the Kirya Defense Headquarters in Tel Aviv, the Ramat David Airbase, Nevatim Airbase, and the Golani Brigade base. Four soldiers from the Golani Brigade base were killed in a Hezbollah drone attack last week.
These perpetrators allegedly communicated with Iranian agents through intermediaries in Turkey. They are also suspected of relaying information about Israel’s key energy infrastructure to the Iranian intelligence department, including the largest power plant in Hadera.
According to the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet), the spy network used advanced equipment to photograph sensitive locations, providing crucial information to Iranian intelligence in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars, some of which were obtained through the use of cryptocurrency.
It is claimed that the suspects also provided reports to their Iranian contacts on the direct impact of Iran’s attacks on Israel in April, information that could help Iran improve the accuracy of future strikes.
(This article references reports from the Israeli Times and Fox News.)