Police in Israel have arrested two soldiers accused of working on behalf of Iran, including passing along secrets about the country’s Iron Dome missile defense system.
Authorities identified the Israel Defense Forces soldiers as George Andreyev and Yuri Eliaspov, both 21. The IDF reservists were charged with contact with a foreign agent, passing along classified information and aiding the enemy during wartime, according to Israel’s Ynetnews said Monday.
The two soldiers are friends and come from the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona near the border with Lebanon. Mr. Eliaspov, who had been in contact with an Iranian operative for several months, was reportedly paid $2,500 for his work for Iran, while Mr. Andreyev received $50, authorities said.
They are accused of spray-painting pro-Iranian graffiti and hanging banners in Tel Aviv bearing the slogan “Children of Ruhollah,” referring to Ruhollah Khomeini, Tehran’s first supreme leader after the 1979 revolution that toppled the shah of Iran.
Mr. Eliaspov reportedly recruited Mr. Andreyev, saying it was “easy money.” Ynetnews said Mr. Eliaspov began working with Iran while still on active duty. He filmed and transmitted a video of the country’s Iron Dome system at the request of his handlers. The film contained information “at the highest classification level,” the news agency reported.
Authorities said both men exchanged Israeli news articles about Iranian espionage activity over the past year, including at least one about an accused spy for Tehran who was caught. They also discussed possible punishments they could receive, according to media reports.
Mr. Andreyev served as an IDF reservist in the Kirya, Israel’s version of the Pentagon. He stopped cooperating with the Iranian handler after he became frightened about what could happen if he were caught, Ynetnews reported.
The two reservists are expected to be indicted in the coming days, The Jerusalem Post reported.
“We urge Israeli citizens and residents to avoid any contact with foreign operatives and to reject offers to carry out tasks on their half. We will act with full severity against those involved in such activities,” according to a statement from Israel’s security service, known as the Shin Bet, and Israeli police.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.