Seven Israelis of Azeri Origin Arrested for Spying for Iran After 600 Missions

Oct 21, 2024, 12:22 PM

Israeli police have arrested seven Israeli citizens on suspicion of spying for Iran, officials announced on Monday. The suspects, Jewish residents of Haifa and northern Israel, include a soldier who deserted the military, two minors, and a father and son. They are of Azeri origin and also hold Azerbaijani citizenship. Accused of acting as Iranian agents over two years, they allegedly completed around 600 espionage missions, gathering intelligence on dozens of targets including military sites, sensitive Israel Defense Forces bases, airbases, the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, Iron Dome missile defense systems, and energy infrastructure. Some of these sites were later targeted in Iranian missile attacks. The suspects reportedly received instructions and cryptocurrency payments from their Iranian handlers, sometimes relayed via Russian contacts. Authorities describe the case as one of the most serious ever, with indictments expected to be filed on Friday.