Israeli soldiers working for Iranian intelligence spied on the Iron Dome

LAST MONTH, ISRAEL ARRESTED two reservists following an investigation that lasted several months and centered on uncovering espionage for an Iranian state entity during wartime. The two reservists had completed their regular military service before joining the reserves.

The two soldiers, identified as Yuri Eliasfov and Georgi Andreyev, held sensitive positions, and a least one was serving as a member of staff in Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system. The soldier serving in the Iron Dome is accused by the police, the Israel Security Agency (ISA), and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), of aiding the enemy during wartime, for which the penalty is life imprisonment or death without the discretion of the court. A prosecutor’s statement has been filed against the two soldiers.

According to the investigation, the espionage affair began when one of the suspects, who served in a classified security system, sought to make contact with Iranian intelligence on social media. During his search, he contacted an Iranian operator, who asked him to complete various tasks in exchange for payments. The investigation revealed that the two soldiers were recruited by Iranian intelligence through the Internet to carry out missions in exchange for payments.

They two men were initially required to spray anti-government graffiti in Tel Aviv and in Israel’s the northern region. Giorgi Andreyev, fearing the consequences of such actions, withdrew from the operation. “We are working for Iran and doing something dangerous,” he told Eliasfov. Despite this, however, Eliasfov, who is reportedly the main suspect in the case, continued his activities.

The undercover investigation revealed that Eliasfov, who serves in the Iron Dome system, filmed a video while participating in a classified information, which he then sent to his Iranian handler. He received $3,500 from the same Iranian official, while his at-times accomplice received $70. During his interrogation, Eliasfov claimed that he committed the acts due to being in a difficult financial situation and because he sought to obtain money easily.

One of the interesting findings that emerged from the investigation of the suspects was that other soldiers and family members were aware of Eliasfov’s initial actions and warned him that he was connecting himself with Iranian elements. Despite that, Eliasfov continued his espionage activities, which included filming a video from inside an Iron Dome facility. The footage reportedly contained classified material that could significantly endanger the security of the State of Israel.

Eliasfov claimed in his interrogation that he only transmitted to his handler a portion of the video on the Iron Dom system. But the investigation allegedly found that the portion of the video shared by Eliasfov contained classified material that jeopardized state security. The investigators also questioned other individuals involved, including soldiers from the suspect’s unit, who knew about his actions but did not report them to the authorities. Also questioned were individuals who did not contact the police after being exposed to details about the suspect’s activities.

The investigation revealed that, unlike prior cases of Iranian espionage inside Israel, this time the Iranian operatives concentrated their requests on videos about the Iron Dome and asked for information about the IDF. A senior police officer, who commented on the seriousness of the actions, said: “The filmed video revealed particularly sensitive information about the Iron Dome system. This is information that Israel’s enemies could use to carry out actions against it. The damage caused to the state’s security is severe.”

This is not the first time in the past year that the ISA has exposed Iranian espionage activity against Israel. Several major cases have been exposed; they include the arrest of a doctor who was recruited by an Iranian case officer during a trip abroad, as well as the exposure of a spy cell of Palestinians operating in East Jerusalem.

► Author: Avner Barnea* | Date: 17 February 2025 | Permalink

Dr. Avner Barnea is research fellow at the National Security Studies Center of the University of Haifa in Israel. He served as a senior officer in the Israel Security Agency (ISA). He is the author of We Never Expected That: A Comparative Study of Failures in National and Business Intelligence (Lexington Books, 2021).