Israel has indicted a 27-year-old resident of Kiryat Yam on charges of spying for Iranian intelligence, accusing him of transmitting sensitive military information and exploiting his girlfriend’s access to an Air Force base, the Shin Bet and Israel Police said on Sunday.
Prosecutors said the suspect, Shimon Azarzar, a resident of Kiryat Yam, sent photos and coordinates of strategic sites to Iranian operatives over the course of a year.
According to investigators, he also used his girlfriend – a reservist serving on an Israeli Air Force base – to obtain additional details on facilities and operations.
The indictment, filed at the Haifa District Court, includes espionage-related offenses such as unauthorized contact with a foreign agent and offering classified material. Authorities said Azarzar received digital payments for his activity.
In a joint statement, the Shin Bet and police warned Israelis against responding to online solicitations from foreign entities. “Security bodies will continue to identify and thwart terror and espionage activity in Israel, and will work to bring all those involved to justice,” they said.
Investigators said Azarzar had offered to pass information from inside military bases and attempted to leverage knowledge obtained through his girlfriend, who has not been charged.
The case follows the recent arrest of another Israeli man on similar suspicions. During a search of his home, authorities allegedly found digital files and 18 SIM cards used to communicate with a foreign agent.
According to the Shin Bet, that individual had been tasked by an Iranian handler with photographing several public locations in the Tel Aviv area – including the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Ganei Avraham Park in Bavli, and the site of a missile strike in Ramat Gan. He allegedly received thousands of shekels in cryptocurrency.
The indictments come amid what Israeli officials describe as an increase in Tehran-linked espionage efforts, often conducted through social media recruitment.
Last week, prosecutors charged a hotel worker from Tiberias with spying for Iran, in a separate case reported by local media.
Israel and Iran, longtime regional adversaries, have stepped up counter-intelligence measures following the 12-day war in June, when both sides exchanged direct strikes.
