Israeli authorities have charged a soldier with espionage, accusing him of passing sensitive information to Iranian operatives in exchange for payment, according to a joint statement released on Thursday by the police and security agency Shin Bet.
The soldier, whose identity remains undisclosed, allegedly shared video footage of Israeli missile interceptions and locations struck by Iranian rocket fire during last month’s 12-day military exchange between the two rivals. The videos were reportedly sent directly to Iranian contacts.
While Shin Bet clarified that the soldier did not transmit materials obtained during his official duties with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and that the shared content was not classified, the agency nonetheless described the incident as extremely serious.
“This is considered a particularly grave incident involving direct contact between an IDF soldier and hostile foreign elements,” the statement read.
A military court has ordered the soldier to remain in custody until at least next week as investigations continue.
The indictment comes just one day after Israeli authorities launched a rare, nationwide media campaign warning citizens about the dangers of espionage. The campaign, aired across various platforms, cautioned that accepting money from Iranian sources in exchange for information could carry a prison sentence of up to 15 years.
The case underscores Israel’s growing concern over Iranian intelligence activity and highlights the increasingly covert frontlines in the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
Melissa Enoch
Follow us on:
