Israel Indicts Three IDF Soldiers and Civilian for Spying for Iran

Israel indicted three IDF soldiers and a civilian on charges of spying for Iran after allegedly maintaining long-term contact with Iranian intelligence operatives and carrying out security-related tasks at their direction before their military enlistment.

“Three Israeli soldiers and a ‘civilian’ will be indicted on espionage charges after allegedly maintaining long-term contact with Iran-linked operatives and carrying out tasks on their behalf, Israeli media reported on Friday, citing a joint statement by the Israeli military, police, and intelligence services”

Al-Manar TV Lebanon

The Shin Bet, Israel Police, and Military Police said the suspects were arrested in a joint operation and that the indictment alleges they photographed sites across Israel and transferred the footage to their handlers.

Al-Manar TV Lebanon

The indictment described the suspects as residents of Kiryat Yam and Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel, and said they were in contact from January to March 2025 with people who presented themselves as Iranian agents using the usernames “NOVITAMIN” and “CLARK” through Telegram.

In Haifa District Court, ynetnews said the four suspects—three soldiers and one civilian—were about 17 at the time of the alleged offenses, and that two of them studied at the Air Force technical school in Haifa.

The case also described a recruitment method tied to social media, with WANA reporting that Channel 15 said the alleged connection began through an Instagram story and continued after one of the young soldiers was contacted by an Iranian individual online.

Israeli authorities said the suspects documented and transferred information about civilian and security sites across Israel, including train stations, shopping centers, and surveillance cameras, and also transferred footage of the Israeli Air Force technical school where some of the suspects had studied.

According to the indictment as described by i24NEWS, the suspects filmed civilian and military sites across Israel and provided the information to Iranian agents who contacted them on Telegram.

Al-Siyasa

WANA said Channel 15 claimed that some assignments were delivered through TikTok and that the suspects were allegedly tasked with identifying buildings, streets, surveillance cameras, shopping centers, and even a facility linked to the Israeli Air Force.

In ynetnews’ account, one defendant allegedly offered to send an Iranian agent photos of F-16 fighter jets and their locations at the Air Force technical school in Haifa in exchange for 15,000 shekels, while the Iranian agent rejected that offer and instead asked for the locations of Iron Dome air defense systems for 5,000 shekels for each location sent.

WANA further reported that Channel 15 said the total amount received by all four suspects combined was less than $7,000, and that Israeli security officials were particularly alarmed by the relatively small amount of money allegedly paid for the operations.

Israeli security bodies framed the case as part of a broader pattern of hostile recruitment during the war, with the IDF, police, and Mossad saying the affair follows “a series of recent cases” pointing to efforts to recruit Israeli citizens for missions intended to harm Israel’s security and residents.

“Follow our top news via the WhatsApp app Exclusive Local News Security and Justice Miscellaneous Regional and International Economy Lifestyle Sports Technology Arts May 8, 2026 at 12:17 PM The Shin Bet and the Israeli police arrested three soldiers and a fourth Israeli civilian on suspicion of spying for Iranian intelligence when they were minors”

Al-Siyasa

The Jerusalem Post reported that the arrests were carried out in a joint operation by the Shin Bet, the Asher District investigative unit, Lahav 433, and the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division, and that investigators said one suspect allegedly recruited the others and directed photography missions across the country.

In ynetnews’ description of the indictment, prosecutors said the defendants carried out dozens of tasks across Israel while aware they were in contact with foreign agents acting on behalf of Iran, and that the indictment charges them with contacting a foreign agent and providing intelligence to aid the enemy.

The case also included alleged vandalism and weapon-related requests, with the Jerusalem Post saying authorities said the suspects were also asked to purchase weapons and that some were allegedly involved in vandalism of property as part of their contact with foreign handlers.

As the legal process moved forward, ynetnews said the four were charged Friday in Haifa District Court, while WANA reported that Channel 15 described the case as a serious security breach that authorities had reportedly been warned about in advance but failed to address.