Three chareidi men — including an avreich who got married just a month ago and two yeshiva bochurim — were arrested in late-night raids across central Israel on suspicion of carrying out tasks on behalf of Iran.

The arrests, which took place in Beitar Illit, Elad, and Modi’in Illit (Kiryat Sefer), are part of a broader counterintelligence probe being led by Shin Bet.

According to highly credible YWN sources, the three suspects – two of whom are brothers – were contacted via Telegram by individuals believed to be Iranian intelligence operatives — though investigators assess that the chareidim themselves were unaware they were communicating with foreign agents. The suspects allegedly carried out small-scale assignments in exchange for money, including photographing buildings and scrawling anti–Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu graffiti.

While the alleged activities themselves appear limited in scope, the manner in which the arrests were carried out has triggered anger within chareidi communities and raised questions about coordination between Israel’s security agencies and police.

Shin Bet forces forcibly entered at least five homes while searching for the wanted avreich, according to residents and local sources.

In multiple cases, fathers of large families were ordered to lie face-down on the floor at gunpoint while masked operatives demanded identification documents. In one incident, a stun gun was used against a father who had just woken from sleep and was slow to respond.

Residents say the operatives did not identify themselves as Shin Bet agents and wore masks throughout the operation. Even after it became clear that the avreichim living in the targeted homes were not the individual being sought, no explanation was provided as to who the agents were or under what authority they were operating.

The situation escalated further when shots were fired into the air, prompting frightened residents to call police. According to sources, responding police officers were themselves unaware that a Shin Bet operation was underway in the city.

The arrests come amid heightened Israeli concern over Iranian efforts to recruit Israelis — often through encrypted messaging apps — to carry out low-level intelligence or influence operations. In recent months, Israeli security officials have warned repeatedly that Tehran is casting a wide net, targeting individuals with little or no prior connection to espionage.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)