Summary
- Israel has issued a security warning after intelligence agencies said Iran is attempting to recruit Israelis online.
- Authorities say operatives are using social media and messaging apps to gather intelligence on sensitive locations and individuals.
- At least 16 security-related cases have been uncovered since Israel launched strikes inside Iran.
NAIROBI, Kenya— Israel has issued a fresh security warning to its citizens after authorities said Iran is attempting to recruit Israelis online, even as tensions between the two countries escalate rapidly.
The alert comes days after Israel, working in coordination with the United States, launched strikes inside Iran that reportedly killed Ali Khamenei, the country’s Supreme Leader — an event analysts say could trigger a wider regional conflict.
Israeli security agencies say the battlefield is no longer confined to airstrikes and ground operations. Instead, intelligence battles are increasingly playing out online through social media platforms and messaging apps.
Israeli Security Agencies Warn of Online Recruitment
In a joint statement, the Shin Bet and the Israel Police warned the public against engaging with suspicious online contacts believed to be linked to Iranian intelligence networks.
Authorities say these operatives are using social media to approach Israeli citizens and persuade them to carry out tasks that could compromise national security.
According to the agencies, the operations are aimed at collecting intelligence about:
- Strategic locations inside Israel
- The whereabouts of specific individuals
- Sensitive or critical infrastructure
“The Shin Bet and the Israel Police reiterate their warning to the public against maintaining contact with Iranian intelligence elements online and carrying out security-related tasks at their direction,” the agencies said in the statement.
Officials say recruitment attempts have intensified over the past year, suggesting a long-running intelligence effort that has now accelerated amid the current conflict.
Recruitment Efforts Continue Amid Military Escalation
Israeli authorities say the espionage push has not slowed despite the ongoing military confrontation between Israel and Iran.
Investigators believe recruitment attempts are continuing even during Israel’s latest military operations, raising concerns that Tehran could be trying to gather real-time intelligence as hostilities unfold.
Security officials confirmed that law enforcement agencies are actively tracking and arresting individuals suspected of cooperating with Iranian intelligence operatives.
At Least 16 Security Cases Under Investigation
Authorities say the crackdown has already led to multiple investigations.
Since Israel began its strikes against Iran on Saturday, security agencies say they have uncovered at least 16 cases involving Israelis suspected of maintaining contact with Iranian intelligence agents.
Officials have not disclosed the identities of the individuals involved or the specific tasks they were allegedly asked to perform, saying investigations remain ongoing.
The warning underscores how modern conflicts increasingly extend into the digital world, where intelligence agencies rely on social media platforms, encrypted messaging apps, and online communities to recruit informants or gather sensitive information.
For Israeli authorities, the message is clear: the war may be physical, but the recruitment battlefield is digital.
