Israeli Soldier Sells Sensitive Information to Iran for $3,500

28th January 2025

2 minutes read

Israeli Soldier Sells Sensitive Information to Iran for $3,500

An Israeli soldier sold sensitive and classified information about the air defense system to Iran in exchange for $3,500.

Amid the months-long confrontation between Iran and Israel, investigations conducted in Tel Aviv by the General Security Service “Shin Bet” and the police into two soldiers arrested for collaborating with Iranian intelligence have revealed an intriguing aspect of the secret war between the two sides.

According to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, citing Israeli security officials, “the information could cause significant damage to the system’s capabilities.”
They added, “They will be charged with aiding the enemy during wartime.”

In a joint statement from the spokesperson of the Israeli police and the spokesperson for the Shin Bet, it was stated: “In a joint operation conducted in January by the General Security Service (Shin Bet) and the Lahav 433 investigation unit of the Israeli police, two Israeli citizens residing in the Krayot area in northern Israel, Yuri Eliasov and Georgy Andreev, were arrested on suspicion of security-related offenses.”

The statement added, “The investigations by the police and Shin Bet revealed that Yuri had been in contact with an Iranian entity for several months. Under its guidance, he carried out security-related tasks in exchange for financial rewards. He also performed tasks such as writing slogans ‘Children of Rouhollah’ in various locations across the country and transmitted classified materials obtained during his military service in the air defense unit to his operator.”

According to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, “the situation took a dangerous turn when Eliasov, who served in a unit operating the Iron Dome, filmed a video of the system in operation and transmitted sensitive data to his operators.”

Security officials stated that “anyone receiving the video and understanding these systems could act against the State of Israel using this information.”

They added, “While Eliasov continued his activities, he received only $3,500, while Andreev received even smaller amounts.”

The Israeli police stated, “Investigations showed that Yuri suggested to his friend Georgy that he too contact the Iranian operator to perform tasks in exchange for financial rewards, even though he knew he was dealing with a hostile entity to Israel.”

They added, “Georgy accepted Yuri’s proposal and began communicating with the operator, carrying out tasks such as painting slogans and helping Yuri hang a banner under the Iranian operator’s instructions.”

The investigations also revealed that Yuri and Georgy were aware they were in contact with an Iranian operator, based on media reports they had seen at the time about the arrest and interrogation of Israelis who had been in contact with Iranian intelligence agents and performed similar missions.

It was further revealed that Iranians are attempting to recruit Israelis through approaches via social media.

The statement concluded that “the prosecution is expected to file serious charges against them in the coming days.”