Israeli Soldier Sentenced to Five Years for Espionage Ties with Iranian Agents

An Israeli military court sentenced a regular IDF soldier to five years in prison for maintaining contact with Iranian agents and providing information that could aid the enemy. In 2025, the soldier received messages on his Telegram account from various sources, some linked to Iran, including job offers. One message came from an Iranian agent offering payment for photography tasks. The soldier subsequently sent two videos showing missile interceptions, filmed during Operation Shield and Arrow in civilian areas, to his Iranian handler and received payment for one of them.

Additionally, the soldier sent several videos from civilian areas to the Iranian foreign agent, including footage of Iranian missile strikes in Israel. The espionage was uncovered when the soldier, feeling pressured by his actions, informed a unit official about his contact with a foreign agent. He was arrested the next day by the Shin Bet.

The military prosecution requested a seven-year sentence, emphasizing the severity and risks of the soldier's actions and the need for deterrence. Besides the five-year prison term, the soldier was given an additional suspended sentence, fined 1,000 shekels, and demoted to the rank of private. Separately, a resident of Bat Yam is set to be charged with spying for Iran, and two Air Force aircraft technicians face similar espionage accusations.