The largest attempt to spy for Iran in recent decades: Israel arrests 30 people, including Jews
Kyiv • UNN
Israel arrested about 30 people, mostly Jews, for spying for Iran. The suspects planned to assassinate scientists and collected data on military facilities.
Among the unfulfilled targets of the alleged cells was the murder of an Israeli nuclear scientist and former military officers. UNN reports with reference to Reuters.
Details
Israel's arrest of nearly 30 mostly Jewish citizens who allegedly spied for Iran in nine secret cells has alarmed the country and indicates Tehran's largest attempt in decades to infiltrate its arch-enemy, four Israeli security sources said.
Among the unfulfilled tasks set by these cells were the assassination of an Israeli nuclear scientist and former military officers, while one group collected information on military bases and air defense systems, the Shin Bet security service reported.
“There is a big phenomenon here,” said Shalom Ben Hanan, a former senior Shin Bet official, referring to what he called the surprising number of Jewish citizens who have knowingly agreed to work for Iran.
Last week, the Israeli security service and police said that the father and son had been transmitting information about the movements of Israeli troops, including in the Golan Heights, where they lived.
According to four current and former military and security officials, the arrests were the result of repeated attempts by Iranian intelligence officers over the past two years to recruit ordinary Israelis to gather intelligence and commit terrorist attacks in exchange for money.
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