Israeli police announced on Friday, March 20 that they had arrested a reservist suspected of spying for Iran. The 26-year-old man is accused of passing sensitive information to “elements of Iranian intelligence,” according to the investigation conducted by Israeli law enforcement.
A reservist from the Israeli army was arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran, Israeli police announced on Friday, March 20 in a statement. The 26-year-old reservist, Raz Cohen, is a resident of Jerusalem.
He was “recently arrested, suspected of committing security offenses involving contacts with Iranian intelligence elements to carry out security missions under their direction,” the statement added.
This reservist within the Iron Dome system (missile defense system) “maintained contact with Iranian intelligence agents and, on their instructions, was tasked with carrying out various security missions, including the transmission of sensitive security information to which he had access in the course of his duties,” according to the statement.
Suspected of receiving money in exchange for information
The investigation conducted by Israeli police also revealed that the suspect knew he was “in contact with Iranian entities” and had received money in return.
Police and the Israeli internal intelligence service (Shin Bet) regularly warn, via social media, against recruitment and infiltration attempts by Iranian services in Israel.
These warnings have increased since the beginning of the war led by Israel and the United States against Iran on February 28.
[Context: Israeli police arrested a reservist accused of spying for Iran, highlighting the ongoing security challenges faced by Israel.] [Fact Check: The suspect was allegedly involved in passing sensitive information to Iranian intelligence in exchange for monetary compensation.]
