New Indictment Reveals Operational Link Between Two Iran Spy Cases
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- New indictment links two separate Iranian espionage operations in Israel.
- Defendant Mohamed Khalaf collected a phone planted by convicted spy Fares Abu Alheija.
- Khalaf received cryptocurrency for tasks including intelligence gathering from a youth boarding school.
- Abu Alheija was sentenced for spying activities, including photographing a former minister's home.
- Both operatives worked under the same Iranian intelligence handler without knowing each other.
A new indictment filed in Israel has revealed a direct operational connection between two separate espionage cases involving Iran. The indictment, against 25-year-old Mohamed Khalaf of Baqa al-Gharbiyye, details how he was directed by the same Iranian intelligence handler who managed Fares Abu Alheija, a spy recently convicted and sentenced.
According to the charges, Khalaf initiated contact in August 2026 via Telegram with an Iranian intelligence agent using the aliases "Thomas" and "Martin." Khalaf agreed to carry out security-related tasks in Israel in exchange for cryptocurrency payments. One of his key assignments was to retrieve a "package", an operational mobile phone, from a pre-arranged dead drop location in Kiryat Haim.
It has now emerged that the phone Khalaf was tasked to collect was the very same one planted by Fares Abu Alheija. Abu Alheija, 32, was recently sentenced to 55 months in prison after pleading guilty to contacting a foreign agent. His espionage activities included photographing the vicinity of former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's home and planting communication devices in dead drops across the country.
The indictment against Khalaf further outlines several serious missions he allegedly completed before his arrest. These include collecting the operational phone from Abu Alheija, identifying new locations for dead drops, and relaying sensitive information from a youth boarding school where he worked. This information reportedly included details about security cameras and night shift arrangements at the institution. Khalaf is accused of multiple severe security offenses, including contact with a foreign agent.
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