Politics Local 2026-04-10T20:31:45+00:00

Israeli Authorities Thwart Iranian Spy Cell in Haifa

Israeli security services have thwarted a spy cell linked to Iranian intelligence. The group was preparing an attack on a high-profile Israeli politician, including a former prime minister. The investigation revealed a connection between Israeli citizens and Tehran.


Israeli Authorities Thwart Iranian Spy Cell in Haifa

The investigation points to 22-year-old Ami Gaidrov as the central figure in a structure that not only received direct orders from an Iranian operator but also advanced in specific tasks of operational preparation against a high-profile Israeli figure. The key point to understand is that for the Israeli authorities, this was not a vague suspicion or a casual contact with foreign agents, but a concrete operation attributed to the Iranian apparatus. The picture described by investigators is one of an espionage and sabotage operation directed by Tehran within Israeli territory. The severity of the case increases because the investigation is not limited to the preparation of explosive material. This is the distinction that needs to be made precisely: the final criminal responsibility will be determined by the judiciary, but the operation was detected, thwarted, and exposed by Israeli security bodies as an action directed by the Iranian regime. This finding reinforces a warning that has been repeated in Israel for months: Iran is trying to recruit Israelis through easy money, cryptocurrencies, and covert contacts to build internal networks that can later be used for attacks, sabotage, or strategic surveillance. Another point that appears strongly in local coverage is the potential target of the plan. For the Iranian regime, this type of maneuver fits a known logic: use third parties, local recruits, and discreet cells to harass, spy on, or prepare attacks without direct exposure. In other words, this is not a matter of political speculation, but an internal threat that Israel considers proven in the realm of intelligence and national security. For Israel, the case again shows a disturbing pattern: while Tehran confronts openly on the military and regional front, it also operates in the shadows to strike from within. According to the investigation released by Israeli media, Gaidrov maintained contact with an Iranian agent since August 2025, received over 70,000 shekels, rented an apartment in Haifa to manufacture explosives, and sent photos and videos as proof of the completion of the assigned missions. According to the investigation, the detainee also conducted observation tasks on the Port of Haifa, missile impact zones in northern Israel, and possible points for installing permanent surveillance over a strategic area. The difference this time is that the cell was discovered before it could execute its objective, and once again revealed the hand of the regime behind a clandestine operation within the State of Israel. Jerusalem, April 10, 2026 - Total News Agency - TNA - The Iranian regime was once again exposed in an infiltration and covert terrorism operation within Israel, after the Shin Bet and Israeli Police thwarted a cell in Haifa composed of Israeli citizens accused of working for Iranian intelligence, manufacturing explosives, and gathering sensitive information amidst a regional war. Among the names mentioned by the Israeli press are Sergey Leibman and Edward Shovtiuk, who were also included in the investigation. Although the authorities did not officially identify the target figure in the initial statement, Israeli media reported that the investigation links the operation to a plan to attack former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. That is, it was not a simple exchange of irrelevant information, but an intelligence mission in the midst of an open war with the Iranian regime and its regional allies. In parallel, the investigation maintains that Gaidrov involved other people in the purchase of materials, the concealment of explosives, and the tests of functionality. This detail still moves in the realm of journalistic reconstruction, but it is already part of the dominant informational consensus in Israel around the file. In legal terms, the case has entered a decisive phase: the prosecution has already filed a preliminary indictment, and it is expected that in the coming days, formal charges will be brought against the main individuals involved.