Iranian Spy Ring Exposed: Espionage Operation on Israel Launched from UAE
An Israeli citizen was arrested for spying on critical infrastructure for Iran — with Dubai allegedly serving as the launchpad for the covert operation.
Watan-In a serious security development that highlights the complexities of the intelligence war in the Middle East, Israeli security services have revealed the arrest of an Israeli citizen on charges of spying for Iran — a case that has sparked controversy and concern at the highest levels in Tel Aviv. Notably, the “starting point” of the espionage operation was inside the United Arab Emirates, according to the official statement issued by Israel’s General Security Service (Shin Bet) and the police.
According to reports in Hebrew media, the suspect had been in contact with an individual claiming to be an Azerbaijani citizen residing in Dubai, who managed a complex espionage operation from there targeting critical sites inside Israel. The tasks assigned to the suspect included photographing sensitive locations such as the Haifa Port, oil refineries, and even the Dimona nuclear reactor.
The suspect, who received tens of thousands of dollars through encrypted transfers, rented an apartment overlooking the port in Haifa to photograph infrastructure and carried out the orders of his handler, who is believed to belong to an Iranian intelligence agency operating under foreign cover.
Espionage from Within: Iran’s Spy Operation Traced to the UAE
This case is the 17th in a series of espionage scandals linked to Tehran uncovered in recent months — reflecting the scale of the intensifying intelligence confrontation between Israel and Iran. What’s new in this case is that the operation was launched from a country considered a close ally of Tel Aviv: the UAE.
The leaks have raised serious questions within Israeli political and security circles about the extent of Iran’s penetration of the regional environment and its use of Arab capitals as platforms for covert operations. Some analysts fear this scandal could negatively impact relations between Israel and the UAE, which signed the Abraham Accords normalization agreement in 2020.
According to the security statement, the suspect used advanced methods to conceal his identity and encrypt his communications. Police confirmed that extensive investigations are underway to uncover other possible accomplices both inside and outside Israel.
The case exposes the vulnerability of the security system to infiltration and raises questions about the nature of security cooperation between Tel Aviv and some of its regional allies — especially amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the region.
