3 months ago
18
Israel's internal security agency, Shin Bet, uncovered a plot run by Iranian intelligence to spy on Israeli defense chiefs through social media.
Fake online profiles were used by Iranian operatives asking Israelis to photograph residences of their homes and the homes of other governmental officials, known to speak against Iran.
The social media accounts had even managed to initiate gatherings near the families of hostages held in Gaza by Iran-backed militia, Hamas.
Through surveys, the social media accounts -- on Instagram, Telegram and TikTok -- had managed to begin gathering personal information on Israeli civilians in an attempt to utilize them in later operations.
The latest revelation was apparently run by the same Iranian network behind attempts uncovered last month to recruit Israelis over social media to carry out spying missions, including an assassination, in exchange for money.
Shin Bet said that since the beginning of the war in the Gaza, triggered by the Hamas invasion on October 7, killing at least 1,200 and taking 246 more hostage, the agency has identified that “the activity efforts of Iranian security forces have greatly intensified, while using digital space for the purposes of intimidation, conveying messages or advancing terror activity.”
The agency said: “Its purpose is to assist Hamas in its war and to damage Israel’s national resilience and war effort, sowing demoralization and deepening social divisions."
