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Euronews
3 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Tehran recruited Israelis to spy on their homeland
Last week, news broke of the arrest in Israel of two 24-year-old Israelis, Roy Mazrahi and Almoog Attias, on charges of spying for the Islamic Republic of Iran's intelligence services. The two were childhood friends, residents of the town of Nasher near the Israeli port of Haifa, had become addicted to gambling and amassed a lot of debt, the Jerusalem Post reported. According to the report, Mazrahi met an unknown person through an Internet group, who offers him good money in exchange for doing seemingly irrelevant and harmless things. This young Israeli sees the situation as an opportunity to escape his financial crisis. At first, Mazrahi was asked to photograph the areas around his home and then document the sales sign of a car dealership. His next assignment was to burn a note containing a message against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. As the missions went on, police said, they found more dangerous aspects, and Mazrahi realised at some point that his employers were Iranian. On another mission, he moved a briefcase, which he thought contained a bomb, from place to place. Then came the main mission. He bought CCTV cameras and rented a room in a hotel in Tel Aviv, along with Almoog Attias, who had been attracted by the same unidentified person. The two then went to the village of Kfar Ahim, the residence of Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz in the south of the country. Their mission was to install the camera facing the entrance road to Mr. Katz's home, which was not successful due to the presence of security forces. Israeli defence officials told the court that the CCTV work was part of a larger operation to assassinate Katz. However, although Roy Mazrahi and Almog Attias are the latest reported case of such espionage operations, several other cases had already been recorded. In fact, almost every few weeks, there is a new report of Israeli citizens being recruited as spies by Iranian intelligence forces. According to a report by Israel's Internal Security Agency (SHINBET), espionage cases in Israel will increase by about 400 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year. The detention of Roy Mazrahi and Almoog Attias was the 20th case linked to espionage for Iran's intelligence services in Israel in the past year, and Tehran appears to be seizing the opportunity of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza in their efforts to recruite Israeli citizens, said Maor Goren, head of the security department of the Israeli police's National Crime Combating Unit (Lahav 433). Spying has increased in the country. Although the stories of the cases vary, there are clear patterns in all of them, the Jerusalem Post reported. The targetted persons are all facing financial difficulties and looking for a shortcut way to pay off their debts. Many of these people are immigrants who have recently arrived in Israel and have less national and patriotic belonging than older Israelis. Yossi Mellman, an expert on espionage affairs and author of the book 'Spies Against Armageddon,' said, 'Most of the people being recruited are worthless and from the fringes of Israeli communities. But the worrying thing is that a country that is constantly calling for the destruction of Israel has been able to infiltrate its society.' He said of the reason for the success of the Islamic Republic of Iran: 'This is linked to the social collapse of Israel in recent years. The society has lost its sense of solidarity and cohesion. Even the government is only concerned with its own survival. People say to themselves that now that government officials are working for Qatar, why not work for Iran?' Maor Goren stressed, however, that many of the people who contact Iranian agents cut off contact after a while, and then brief the police. The method of recruiting forces by the intelligence services of the Islamic Republic of Iran is also relatively simple and does not require complex planning or macro-investment. Iranian agents mostly carry out the recruitment process through social networks and with simple messages. According to the report, Iranian agents typically target specific groups such as fundamentalist orthodox Jews opposed to Zionism, new immigrants, former criminals, and ordinary citizens mired in financial hardship. Some of those detained were immigrants from former Soviet states, and this may have led to a general distrust of certain strata of society. In fact, social media has given Iranian agents access to a part of Israeli society that was previously unavailable or unknown to them. According to the Jerusalem Post, the Islamic Republic of Iran's intelligence services have contacted Israelis via WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram, LinkedIn, Instagram and X, promising large sums in exchange for doing simple things such as photographing specific locations or people or writing graffiti. They have also occasionally published private detective search ads to gather intelligence from Israeli officials. Iranian agents have also launched phishing campaigns to collect information from Israeli citizens in the form of surveys. In none of the recruitment methods has there been a sign of Iran at first, and most intrigued Israelis have said they did not know at first that they were working for Tehran. Israel's Internal Security Agency (SHINBET) has had a successful performance in deterring the actions of Iranian agents, and so far it appears that no serious damage has been done to Israel's security. However, spying operations continue and many may still have not been identified. Some critics of Israel's legal system believe that the punishment for the perpetrators attracted is too light, and that a few years in prison is not a deterrent for people who have engaged in such acts in exchange for receiving sums of money. Also, the exposure and detention of these individuals has no particular consequences for Tehran. Iranian agents are only waiting for the next victim to respond to their message. In another case, Moshe Attias, an 18-year-old from Yabneh in central Israel, received such a message: 'Thank you for contacting Iranian intelligence. Message the user account below to speak to our experts on Telegram.' Mr. Attias had received about $1,800 in his digital wallet for documentation from the hospital in Maier, where Naftali Bennett, the former Israeli prime minister, was hospitalized. He identified himself as a relative of Mr Bennett and gave information, including details of the security measures adopted at the site, to Iranian agents. Yossi Mellman commented: 'Getting this close to Mr Bennett is an achievement for the Iranian agents and it shows that they are still continuing their actions. But their influence in Israel is still negligible compared to Israel's influence in Iran.' In August last year, Israeli police detained Moti Maman, a 73-year-old Israeli citizen on suspicion of plotting to assassinate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to the indictment, he travelled secretly to Iran twice to meet with Iranian relations and requested $1 million in advance payments in Iran to carry out the assassination. 'Moti Maman had told his contacts that he had no access to high-level officials and had offered to target the mayor of Aka or Nahariya,' Mellman said. He was sentenced to ten years in prison for espionage and plotting assassinations last month. Last year, an Iranian intelligence network focusing only on Jewish immigrants from the Caucasus region managed to attract a couple through an Israeli citizen from Azerbaijan. According to the indictment, the couple received $600 a day for gathering information about potential targets, including surveillance of Mossad's main headquarters. A seven-member network dubbed the 'Haifa Cell' is also accused of imaging dozens of military bases, Iron Dome systems and other strategic targets across Israel in exchange for $500 to $1,200 per mission. According to the indictment, one of their surveillance targets was Navatim Air Base, which was later targeted by an Islamic Republic of Iran missile attack. Not everyone attracted by Iranian agents, of course, is Jewish. Last October, seven Palestinians living in East Jerusalem were detained on suspicion of planning to assassinate a nuclear scientist and the mayor of one of Israel's major cities. To date, Iran's intelligence efforts in Israel do not appear to have achieved much success. Because no senior Israeli official has been assassinated, and even if on occasion live and simultaneous information has been passed to Tehran, this information appears to have been superficial and did not lead to any specific action. However, as Yossi Mellman warns: 'We are ignorant of what we don't know, and the most worrying thing is that some Israelis are willing to betray their homeland for a fistful of dollars.'
Libya Herald
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Libya Herald
444th Combat Brigade Commander Hamza celebrates defeat of SSA militia's corrupt ‘‘empire''
Speaking to the Operations Officers of the Libyan Army, Commander of the 444th Combat Brigade (and head of Military Intelligence), Mahmoud Hamza, congratulated his officers on their unique and unparalleled victory that he said they should be proud to have achieved. He congratulated them for 'overthrowing the Ghnewa Empire.' The late Ghnewa is the head of the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA) militia which was disbanded in a military operation last week. This came after the killing of Ghnewa in contested circumstances during or after a meeting with Hamza and other Aldabaiba aligned military commanders. Ghnewa's killing, the disbanding of the SSA, and the takeover of its bases precipitated militia clashes and demonstration and a week of instability in Tripoli where the government could have collapsed. – Hamza said the Libyan army, of which his 444th Brigade is a member, has uprooted the long-standing corruption of Ghnewa's empire from the largest geographical area in the capital, Tripoli, Abusleem, after wreaking havoc for a decade and a half. – The criminal Ghnewa used to dominate Chiefs of Staff for Land Forces, the SSA, the Internal Security Agency, Audit Bureau, Administrative Control Authority, and he used to get involved in all contracts and coerce and threaten all those in charge, his men stealing in millions and billions. - The Libyan army, with its meticulous military operations, toppled in just one hour, an unjust empire with all the elements of its injustice. - And know, that the fall of Ghnewa was not limited to him. All the countries that exploited him and their intelligence and their intelligence movement fell behind him and were cut off inside our land. We brought them down too. – A few months ago, he brought 10 planes full of ammunition. He was preparing. He has mercenaries and a team from Eastern Europe. – He was another copy of Kany family (of Tarhuna). Killings and mass killings and mass graves. The Libyan people will be surprised by these. We have proof to be revealed soon. – Lutfi Al-Harari, the former Internal Security Agency (ISA) head, used to exploit the ISA to make up lies against people. He corruptly dominated this the most important arm of the state for years. – Ghnewa's brother the ''Kabus'' ( the nightmare ) corruptly made money in the millions and billions, extorting Libyans. – You should be proud the Libyan Army one day got a corrupt unjust militia out from the centre of Tripoli. – We captured tens and hundreds of alcohol and drugs quantities used by these corrupt militias. – They were a reality imposed on the state. They thought their corrupt dominance will endure. – We (the Libyan Army) are civil servants. Regular soldiers with serial numbers. We have not killed anyone or been unjust or stolen from anyone. We are in the path of building the state. Building a state is not easy. You have seen what has happened in Libya since 2011: Daesh, militias, people and fuel smuggling. – They will ask why did I sit and meet with them? We had no choice. We were forced by the status quo we inherited and for the public good as part of our job. - We will continue to secure people, and you will be shown the shocking facts of the effects of tyranny and domination over innocent people. . Nine Corpses found in mortuary fridges in Al-Khadra Hospital – disbanded SSA militia say they are Hafter's mercenaries ''For the first time, Libyans have hope to get rid of these militias, and the dream of the rule of law and institutions is almost a reality soon'': Aldabaiba What we did in Abusleem was a necessary step to end a presence that had gone too far in violating the law and was linked to gross human rights violations: Aldabaiba Aldabaiba meets UK ambassador, says recent security operation came within efforts to enforce law and end an irregular presence Tripoli demonstrations start off peaceful in Martyr Square – end up with Molotov cocktails and fatality at Cabinet Office ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan Libya report to UN Security Council UNSMIL calls for independent investigation into HoR member Dersi's disappearance and circulating torture video General Authority for Search and Identification of Missing Persons says received reports of possible mass graves in Abusleem Zoo Presidency Council decrees unconditional ceasefire, freezes all Aldabaiba Tripoli government's recent military/security decrees 444th Brigade and Military Intelligence head Mahmoud Hamza's narrative of the SDF / RADA Tripoli clash Images of Abdelghani Ghnewa's funeral in Kikla appear as his SSA militia mourn him Gunfire at demonstrations calling for Aldabaiba's downfall, nervous ceasefire holding as calm returns to Tripoli The time of parallel security services is over, there is no place in Libya except for regular institutions of the army and police: Aldabaiba Tripoli PM Aldabaiba appoints Mustafa Al-Wahishi as the new head of the Internal Security Agency Tripoli PM Aldabaiba decrees reorganisation of some security units following Ghnewa Kikly's reported killing Ceasefire announced after heavy overnight fighting in Tripoli Calm returns after overnight Tripoli clashes as major militia leader reportedly killed
Libya Observer
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Libya Observer
Amnesty urges prosecution of militia leaders over Tripoli clashes
Human rights group Amnesty International has urged Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh to prosecute militia leaders involved in recent clashes in Tripoli, calling for an end to what it described as a culture of impunity. In a statement published on Tuesday, Amnesty's Libya researcher, Mahmoud Shalaby, said the government must prioritise victims' rights and initiate a comprehensive, independent investigation into abuses committed by armed groups. 'The cycle of impunity must be broken,' Shalaby said. 'Accountability should not become a tool for revenge, but a step toward justice.' Amnesty welcomed the appointment of a new head of Libya's Internal Security Agency, hoping it would curb what it called the agency's campaign of repression against peaceful citizens. The organisation also called for the prosecution of the agency's former chief, Lotfi Al-Hariri, citing serious abuses allegedly committed during his tenure — including during his previous role with the Central Security Force in Abu Salim. Amnesty further criticised the country's Illegal Immigration Control Department and urged thorough screening of its staff during integration into the Ministry of Interior. It accused the unit, along with the Internal Security Agency and the Stability Support Apparatus, of widespread abuses, including arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and torture. It called for the immediate release of all detainees held without legal charge in both official and unofficial detention centres.
Washington Post
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Libyan authorities suspend 10 international aid groups providing crucial assistance to migrants
CAIRO — Libyan authorities ordered 10 international aid organizations to suspend operations and close offices in the country, accusing the groups of violating local laws by providing aid to African migrants. The Internal Security Agency said in a statement that the humanitarian organizations are violating the law by providing various forms of assistance that would help resettle African migrants in the country.
Arab News
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Libya suspends work of ‘hostile' international NGOs: security agency
'The plan to settle migrants of African origin in Libya is seen as a hostile act' said GheithTRIPOLI: Libyan authorities announced on Wednesday a decision to suspend the work of 10 international humanitarian groups, accusing the NGOs of a plan to 'settle migrants' from other parts of Africa in the country.'The plan to settle migrants of African origin in Libya is seen as a hostile act, which is aimed at altering the demographic composition of the country and threatens Libyan society,' said Salem Gheith, spokesman for the North African country's Internal Security Agency.
