In a dramatic escalation of Iran's covert war against the State of Israel, a 65-year-old resident of Netivot, Edward Yusupov, was arrested on Sunday by Israel Police and Shin Bet agents on grave suspicions of espionage and collaboration with Iranian intelligence. Authorities say Yusupov was recruited by enemy operatives and paid tens of thousands of dollars to carry out a series of surveillance missions against key Israeli security assets.

Yusupov’s arrest is the latest in a disturbing surge of Iranian attempts to infiltrate Israeli society through manipulation, digital deception, and cold hard cash — a pattern that has intensified dramatically since the start of the Gaza war.

Iranian Handlers, Dubai Cover

According to findings from an extensive investigation conducted by the Shin Bet domestic intelligence service in coordination with Israel Police, Yusupov was first contacted in October 2024 by a figure posing as an Azerbaijani national living in Dubai — a city often used as a staging ground for Iranian intelligence operations.

Unbeknownst to Yusupov, or perhaps with full awareness, his mysterious “Azerbaijani” contact was allegedly an operative of the Iranian regime’s intelligence apparatus, orchestrating remote operations from abroad.

הופעל ע"י המודיעין האיראני: תושב נתיבות יואשם במעקב וצילום של אתרים ביטחוניים בישראלhttps://t.co/G9ujg6f88s@SenyorEli pic.twitter.com/XRFfY2Nka9

— חדשות 13 (@newsisrael13) March 23, 2025

A Chilling Mission Portfolio

Security officials revealed that Yusupov was not a passive informant, but an active agent in the service of a hostile foreign power. Under his handler’s orders, he reportedly conducted dozens of covert missions, including:

• Photographing IDF military bases
• Surveying the Haifa Port
• Conducting reconnaissance at Haifa's oil refineries
• Attempting surveillance of the top-secret Nuclear Research Center in Dimona

Each of these targets represents vital national infrastructure, and any breach of their security could have catastrophic consequences.

Impending Prosecution

The Southern District Attorney’s Office is set to formally charge Yusupov in court on Monday. Sources familiar with the case suggest he may face charges ranging from espionage and aiding the enemy during wartime, to unlawful contact with foreign agents and undermining state security — offenses that could carry decades of imprisonment.

Ongoing Threat from Tehran

In an urgent public statement following the arrest, Israeli security services warned:

> “The Shin Bet and Israel Police once again urge all Israeli citizens and residents to exercise extreme caution and avoid any communication with foreign or unidentified entities, particularly those originating from enemy states. Iran and its proxies continue to invest vast resources into recruiting Israelis for espionage, sabotage, and terror missions — often through social media platforms and encrypted messaging apps.”

A 65-year-old man was arrested last month on suspicion of spying for Iran, the police and Shin Bet say.

Prosecutors in the Southern District Attorney’s Office say they plan to indict Netivot resident Edward Yusupov tomorrow on charges of contact with agents from an enemy…

— Netanel Worthy - נתנאל וורתי (@NetanelWorthy) March 23, 2025

A Pattern of Betrayal

Yusupov’s case is not isolated. Israeli authorities are grappling with a growing trend of Iranian recruitment within the country:

• February 2025: A man from Petach Tikva was indicted for gathering intelligence for Iranian agents, including details on military deployments.
• January 2025: Two IDF reserve soldiers, both residents of northern Israel, were arrested and confessed to leaking classified information about Israel’s Iron Dome defense system to Iranian handlers.
• December 2024: Shin Bet apprehended Alexander Granovsky, 29, also from Petach Tikva, accused of orchestrating a series of coordinated arson attacks on vehicles throughout the country at the direction of terror-linked operatives abroad.

  BREAKING: Another Iranian espionage case in Israel: A 65-year-old Netivot resident arrested for photographing IDF bases, Haifa Port, refineries, and the nuclear research center—for tens of thousands of dollars!

  — Yossi BenYakar (@YossiBenYakar) March 23, 2025

Conclusion: Internal Security Under Siege

This latest arrest highlights the escalating shadow war being waged by the Islamic Republic of Iran, not only on Israel’s borders, but within its cities, among its civilians. The enemy’s strategy is clear: sow chaos from within, exploit vulnerable individuals, and erode the nation’s defensive edge through espionage and psychological warfare.

As Iran ramps up its efforts to penetrate Israel’s security perimeter, the Shin Bet’s role as the country’s first line of defense becomes ever more critical. But so too does the vigilance of every Israeli citizen, now on the front lines of an invisible battlefield.