Israel’s Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency and police announced on Monday that they have dismantled a spy network of Jewish Israelis allegedly working for Iran. According to the report, seven individuals from Haifa and surrounding areas had been gathering sensitive intelligence on Israeli military bases, energy infrastructure, and prominent citizens for over two years.
The suspects reportedly provided detailed information about air force and navy installations, ports, the locations of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, and energy facilities, including the Hadera power plant. The intelligence collected is said to have compromised national security and posed a potential threat, aiding enemy forces in launching missile strikes.
Shin Bet’s investigation revealed that the group operated under the direction of two Iranian intelligence agents, known by the codenames Alkhan and Orkhan. They are accused of using advanced equipment, supplied by Iran, to photograph and document strategic sites across Israel. The network was also reported to have received hundreds of thousands of dollars, frequently in cryptocurrency, in exchange for their activities.
The suspects include five adults, whose identities have been publicly named, and two minors, whose names are being withheld in accordance with Israeli law. Prosecutors are expected to file formal charges in the coming days.
This case is seen as particularly serious within Israel, which has experienced several instances of espionage linked to Iran in recent years. The news comes at a time of escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, with military exchanges between the two nations intensifying. Notably, reports suggest that Israel may be preparing a retaliatory strike against Iran following a missile barrage on October 1, adding to the heightened state of conflict amid the ongoing violence in Gaza and Lebanon.
