TEL AVIV: Two technicians from the Israeli Air Force (IAF) have been in custody for about a month on suspicion of spying for Iran, Israeli authorities said, as prosecutors prepare to file formal charges that could include treason.
Israeli media reports suggest the suspects, who worked on F‑15 fighter jets at Tel Nof Airbase, were detained in mid‑March and are accused of transferring sensitive information and images related to the aircraft, including engine diagrams and photographs. One leaked image reportedly showed the face of a flight instructor, in violation of military censorship rules.
The case, first reported by Israel’s KAN News and later covered by outlets including the Jerusalem Post and i24NEWS, comes amid heightened tensions during what local media have referred to as “Operation Roaring Lion.” It forms part of a broader pattern of investigations into alleged Iranian efforts to recruit Israeli insiders through online contact, often offering payments in exchange for photographing bases, systems or personnel.
Israel’s Shin Bet security agency and military police are leading the probe. Officials have not disclosed the scale of the damage or the full details of the indictment, which remains partly under a gag order for security reasons. One of the suspects may face upgraded charges of treason, according to reports.
The arrests follow a series of similar cases in 2025 and 2026 in which Israeli soldiers and civilians were accused of being recruited by Iranian handlers, sometimes through simple online tasks paid in cryptocurrency.
