Jakarta, ThedailyID — An Israeli soldier has received a five-year prison sentence after a military court found him guilty of spying for Iran during the Israel-Iran conflict in June 2025.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the verdict on Wednesday, July 15. Military police, the Israel Police, and the domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet jointly investigated the case.
The incident shocked the Israeli public because the soldier reportedly passed information to Iran while serving in the military.
According to The Times of Israel, the soldier was completing his mandatory military service when he contacted foreign agents. He later provided information that could benefit an enemy.
Investigators said he first communicated with Iranian operatives in 2025 after receiving job offers through Telegram. Authorities identified several of those accounts as Iranian.
One contact allegedly offered him money in exchange for photography assignments. In return, the soldier sent photos and videos related to Israeli military activity.
Investigators found that he also sent two videos showing missile interceptions that he recorded from civilian areas.
He later shared several publicly available videos, including footage showing damage from missile strikes that he found online.
Military officials said the soldier eventually admitted contacting a foreign agent after feeling pressured.
“He informed a member of his unit that he had contacted a foreign agent. Shin Bet arrested him the following day,” the military said.
Military prosecutors requested a seven-year prison sentence. They argued that the offense posed a serious security threat and required a stronger deterrent.
However, the military court noted that the soldier never disclosed classified military information obtained through his duties.
The judges also considered that he voluntarily ended contact with the Iranian agent and reported the incident to his commander.
The court ultimately sentenced him to five years in prison. Judges also imposed a suspended sentence, fined him 1,000 shekels, and reduced him to the lowest enlisted rank.
Authorities withheld the soldier’s identity and unit from the public.
Over the past two years, Israeli authorities have charged dozens of citizens, including active-duty soldiers and reservists, with spying for Iran.
Officials said Iranian operatives often recruit Israelis through Telegram and other social media platforms. They usually begin with simple assignments before directing recruits toward more serious espionage activities.
Israel has also opened a new wing at Damon Prison in Haifa to house suspects facing espionage charges. Many of those cases remain before the courts.
