Israel's military prosecutors have charged a soldier with passing military secrets to Iran, The Jerusalem Post reports. The Shin Bet, Israel Police and the IDF Spokesperson's Unit announced the indictment in a joint statement on Thursday. The soldier was arrested in September in a joint operation. The Times of Israel reports that he spied in exchange for cryptocurrency.
According to investigators, the soldier was in contact with Iranian intelligence operatives for approximately a year, and he knew exactly who he was talking to. The Post reports that he shared sensitive details about his unit's activities, IDF operational readiness and emergency mobilizations, including his own call-up at the outbreak of Operation Roaring Lion.
The list of what he allegedly handed over is long. Investigators say it included the locations and coordinates of military bases, plus photographs of interceptor missiles, military vehicles and US refueling aircraft stationed at an Israeli airport. He also gave his handler personal information about fellow soldiers and commanders in his unit, the Post reports, even though he knew the Iranian operative wanted those details to recruit more spies.
The two worked hard to hide their contact. The Post reports they used coded language, encrypted messaging apps the handler told him to install, and a cover story in case Israeli security caught on. The handler suggested he buy a basic mobile phone and a handgun. The soldier also let his handler into a Telegram group called "Kal Bakrav," which serves Israelis preparing for military service, and the Iranian operative joined it. The payments came through cryptocurrency wallets. According to investigators, the handler also offered the soldier $200,000 to travel to Iran.
The charges are providing information to the enemy with intent to harm state security, providing information for the benefit of the enemy, and contact with a foreign agent. A military court extended his detention until November 12, 2026.
What it means: the case shows how Iran tries to reach inside Israel's ranks, with money and a phone. The Shin Bet, police and IDF called it an extremely serious threat to national security and asked Israelis to watch for recruitment attempts. "We call on the public to exercise the utmost vigilance. Any suspicious approach by an unidentified individual, request to provide information, or offer of payment in exchange for 'services' must be reported to the security authorities," the agencies said.
The September arrest was a joint operation, The Jerusalem Post reports. It brought together the Shin Bet, the Ayalon District Police Investigations Unit, the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division and the Defense Ministry's security authorities. The indictment itself was filed by the IDF Military Prosecution, the Post reports.
The Post also reports that the Iranian handler had the soldier install communications applications that investigators describe as malicious, so the two could trade encrypted messages. In their joint statement, the Shin Bet, Israel Police and the IDF said they would keep working to prevent espionage and terrorism. They said they would pursue legal action against anyone suspected of helping enemy operatives or endangering Israel's security, the Post reports.
