Israeli Spy Network Linked to Iran: 7 Suspects Conducted Surveillance on Military Installations

In a significant security operation, Israeli authorities have arrested seven individuals suspected of espionage for Iran. Those apprehended are a father and son, who recently immigrated from Azerbaijan. The suspects allegedly engaged in surveillance and photography of military installations, including targets hit by recent Iranian missile attacks.

The suspects, residents of Haifa and northern Israel, have been under investigation for two years. They are accused of plotting to assassinate an Israeli senior official and his son, which led to their arrests on September 19. The Israeli Magistrate's Court in Rishon Lezion has allowed the publication of the prosecution's statement, as preparations are underway to file formal charges, including serious security offenses.

Surveillance on Key Military Installations

The group, identified as Aziz Nisanov, Alexander Sedikov, Yigal Nisan, Vychaslav Goshchin, Yevgeni Yufa, and two minors whose identities remain confidential, allegedly gathered intelligence on multiple sensitive sites. These include Air Force bases in Nabatim and Ramat David, the Kariya camp in Tel Aviv, Iron Dome battery locations, and key energy infrastructures like the Hadera power plant. They reportedly received maps of strategic sites, including Golani camp, where four soldiers were killed in a drone attack last week.

The Israeli state attorney's office described this as one of the most serious cases investigated in recent years. The Shin Bet security service began its probe two months ago, with the elite Lahav 433 unit joining the investigation as evidence surfaced.

Serious Charges Against Accused Spies

Yaron Binyamin, head of Lahav 433’s security department, stated that the suspects conducted approximately 600 missions for Iranian intelligence over the past two years, receiving hundreds of thousands of shekels in cash and cryptocurrencies in return. They allegedly operated under the direction of two Iranian agents, tasked with gathering information that could compromise Israeli security.

 Received Hundreds of Thousands

The investigation revealed that the suspects used advanced equipment purchased specifically for their espionage activities, which they conducted with the knowledge that their actions could aid Iran in executing missile attacks against Israel. The suspects were also involved in surveilling Israeli citizens as per Iranian requests.

Following their arrests, it was discovered that the group had developed a detailed operational method, including a pricing list for their espionage tasks. The investigation culminated in a series of eavesdropping operations that confirmed the suspects’ ongoing engagements with Iranian agents.

 Linked to Recent Iranian Missile Attacks

Binyamin emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, "They knew they were working for an enemy country, and the anticipated penalties will be particularly severe."

The arrests of the suspects were made during a photographic mission in southern Israel, leading to further investigations and arrests linked to this espionage network.