IDF Givati Brigade soldier arrested, charged in suspected Iran espionage

The soldier is alleged to have been in contact with Iranian intelligence forces since some time in July 2025, and to have carried out tasks for them in exchange for financial compensation.

An IDF soldier from the Givati Brigade was arrested by Israeli authorities in September under suspicion of spying for Iran, a court released for publication on Wednesday.

The soldier is alleged to have been in contact with Iranian intelligence forces since some time in July 2025, and to have carried out tasks for them in exchange for financial compensation. These tasks included sending photos and videos of important sites in Israel, including from within army bases, as well as information on weapons and armaments used by the IDF.

The soldier's actions were discovered and he was arrested in September, after an investigation conducted by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), the Investigative Military Police, and MALMAB (Director of Security of the Defense Establishment).

The soldier was charged with contact with a foreign agent, passing information to the enemy, impersonation, and obstruction of justice.

IDF soldiers seen as part of operations targeting Syrian military capabilities, in northern Israel, January 9, 2025 (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

More Israelis spying for Iran since October 7

There has been a growing number of Israelis arrested on charges of spying for Iran since October 7.

In September, Elimelech Stern, a 22-year-old from Beit Shemesh, was convicted after being recruited by an Iranian agent who went by the name of “Anna” on the Telegram app. Stern went on to recruit others to conduct missions for Iran, including hanging posters condemning Israel for its actions in Gaza, and handing over cash in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Rafael Rueveni, a 21-year-old resident of Beersheba, was arrested in October after an investigation revealed he had carried out various security-related missions for Iranian agents, including retrieving a SIM card and leaving a phone and a pack of cigarettes for the agents.

An indictment was filed in January against Lekachao Demsash, a 31-year-old Rishon Lezion resident, who was accused of conducting surveillance for a foreign agent suspected to be Iranian intelligence. Demsash was instructed to install a dashboard camera in his vehicle equipped with a SIM card, allowing the operator to access the camera remotely and view live footage in real time. He was then sent to monitor various locations, including the street outside the home of former prime minister Naftali Bennett.

Sarah Ben-Nun and Joanie Margulies contributed to this report.