Israel arrests two suspected citizens spying for Iran

Israeli authorities on Monday announced the arrest of two citizens suspected of espionage for Iran, marking the latest in a series of detentions linked to alleged Iranian intelligence operations since summer.

The suspects, identified as Yuri Eliaspov and Georgi Andreev, both from northern Israel, were detained by the Shin Bet internal security service and police.

According to a joint statement, Eliaspov, a reservist in the Israeli military, is accused of passing classified information obtained during his service in the air defense forces to an Iranian handler.

Andreev, also a reservist, was allegedly recruited by Eliaspov to work for Tehran. Both men were reportedly paid for their activities and were fully aware they were acting against Israel’s interests.

The arrests highlight ongoing concerns over Iranian espionage targeting Israel’s advanced defense systems, including the Iron Dome, which intercepts rockets and projectiles from Iran and its allies, such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

The groups have been central to recent conflicts, including Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks that triggered the Gaza war and Hezbollah’s cross-border skirmishes.

Iran has also launched direct assaults on Israel, including a missile and drone barrage in April, which Tehran claimed was retaliation for an Israeli strike on its Damascus embassy.

A second attack in October was allegedly in response to the assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. Israel later acknowledged responsibility for Haniyeh’s killing.

The arrests are a reminder of the high-stakes intelligence war between the two nations, with Israel’s security apparatus remaining on high alert.