A man serving in a classified unit in the IDF was indicted about two weeks ago on suspicion of spying for Iran, the court permitted for publication on Wednesday.
The suspected charges are contact with a foreign agent and attempted transmission of information liable to benefit the enemy.
Consistent communications with Iranian contact
The investigation, conducted by the Defense Ministry’s Arazim Central Unit and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), revealed that the suspect was in consistent contact with someone who identified themselves as an Iranian intelligence agent. He was, at one point, asked to aid in looping in another soldier to be in contact with the same foreign intelligence agents as well.
The security and intelligence agencies warned again on Wednesday against any contact with foreign or unknown agents, urged citizens to report any such connection to authorities, and noted that recruitment attempts take place on social media. They added that they will continue to locate and prosecute crimes of terror and spying.
Attorney Nati Rom, representing the suspect, said that the case at hand was “esoteric” and “at most” included an instance of recklessness.
“It is tragic that a man who has given his life and paid personal sacrifices for the security of the State of Israel now finds himself indicted on security charges and imprisoned as though he is a Nukhba terrorist,” Rom said.
He added that the suspect certainly did not intend to harm state security, that “it was all just a bad joke,” and that by his reading, the facts at hand don't add up to the charges.
Around the same time as the indictment was issued, on July 15 the IDF announced separately that a soldier convicted of spying for Iran throughout 2025 was sentenced to five years in prison by a military court.
He had received messages on Telegram offering him money in exchange for footage of sensitive security information. He sent a video of two rockets being intercepted; the video did not contain any military information nor was it obtained as part of his role.