An indictment was filed on Thursday against a 19-year-old resident of Nazareth following his arrest last month for allegedly transferring information to Hezbollah during the Northern Arrows war.
The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and Israel Police said that their investigation revealed Muhammad Saadi had been in contact with the Iranian-backed terrorist organization in recent years and had expressed a desire to join the Lebanon-based group.
The indictment comes after a ceasefire, which began on Nov. 27, ended over a year of war between Israel and Hezbollah. The conflict saw near-daily rocket, missile and drone attacks on northern Israel, starting on Oct. 8, 2023, the day after the Hamas-led massacre to the south.
According to the security agencies, Saadi reached out to the Hezbollah-affiliated satellite television network Al-Manar, offering to share photos and videos, including some taken during the war. He allegedly provided information about rocket impact sites, aircraft movements and IDF positions.
On Thursday morning, the Northern District Prosecutor’s Office charged Saadi with contacting a foreign agent.
The Israel Police and Shin Bet recently arrested a 23-year-old resident of Jerusalem on suspicion of espionage on behalf of Iran, authorities announced on Tuesday.
The suspect, identified by police as Erdler Amoyal, also made advanced preparations to carry out terrorist attacks in the Jewish state in exchange for money, according to charges filed on Tuesday.
Earlier this month, three residents of northern Israel were arrested as part of two investigations into Iranian espionage activity.
In mid-October, a resident of Petach Tikvah was arrested for allegedly plotting to assassinate a prominent figure on Iran’s orders.
Also that month, seven Arabs from eastern Jerusalem were arrested on suspicion of plotting to assassinate scientists and top Israeli officials on behalf of the Iranian regime.
In September, Moti Maman, 73, a Jewish businessman from Ashkelon, was arrested on suspicion of having met with Iranian intelligence operatives and assisting them in planning high-profile killings, including those of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Maman visited Iran twice this year, where he demanded $1 million as a down payment for a series of missions, according to the Shin Bet.
