Israeli authorities have charged Bassem and Tahrir Safadi, a father-son duo from the Druze village of Mas’ade, with espionage for Iran’s Quds Force. Arrested in November, the two are accused of gathering intelligence on IDF activities in the Golan Heights and passing it to Iranian handlers.
The Shin Bet revealed that Tahrir Safadi, a 21-year-old software engineering student, had been recruited by his father, Bassem, to collect information. The gathered data was shared with Hussam as-Salam Tawfiq Zidan, a journalist for the Iranian state-owned Al-Alam News Network and a member of the Quds Force’s Palestine division. This division is known for supporting Palestinian militant groups.
The duo reportedly carried out missions including photographing troop movements and military equipment. Tahrir faces charges of grave espionage, while Bassem is under administrative detention due to the threat he poses to national security.
This case is the latest in a series of espionage cases involving Iranian plots to exploit Israeli citizens for intelligence-gathering or attacks. Recent incidents include arrests of individuals allegedly involved in sabotage, spying, and even assassination plots at Tehran’s direction.
The Shin Bet stressed the seriousness of any contact between Israeli citizens and Iranian elements, viewing such cases as a significant threat to national security.
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