Israel arrests 2 reserve soldiers for spying for Iran

JERUSALEM

Two Israeli reserve soldiers were arrested on accusations of spying for Iran, police said on Monday.

A police statement said the two soldiers obtained and passed classified information to Iran in return for financial compensation.

According to the statement, one of the suspects, Yuri Eliasfov, who served in the Israeli army’s Iron Dome air defense unit, passed classified material obtained during his military service to his Iranian handler, without giving details.

Eliasfov also recruited his friend, Georgi Andreyev, and put him in contact with the same Iranian agent, police said.

Police accused the two soldiers of spray-painted graffiti and hanging banners in Tel Aviv on instructions from their Iranian agent.

An indictment is expected to be filed against the two reserve soldiers in the coming days.

There was no immediate comment from Iran on the Israeli claim.

In recent years, Iran and Israel announced on several occasions the dismantling of spy networks amid continued rivalry between the two arch-foes.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar