Police Uncover Iranian-Linked Espionage Case Involving Haifa-Area Minors
Israeli police have arrested minors in the Haifa area for espionage, after they were recruited by an Iranian agent for tasks including graffiti and.
Jerusalem, 30 August, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel Police solved a security case involving several minors, residents of the Haifa and Krayot area, who maintained ongoing contact with A foreign agent working on behalf of Iranian intelligence, following a covert investigation.
The case began with the arrest of a minor at Ben Gurion Airport on suspicion of espionage and contact with a foreign agent. The investigation found the initial contact was established while the suspect was searching for a job online. The foreign agent used a “gradual approach,” starting with seemingly innocent tasks such as distributing flyers, before demanding full identification through photographs.
As the connection deepened, the suspect recruited a second minor, and together they carried out security-related tasks, including spray-painting anti-government graffiti, photographing strategic sites in central Israel, and attempting to recruit additional minors. The suspects received monetary payments totaling a few thousand Shekels.