A 22-page indictment filed Friday charges seven northern Israeli residents with espionage for Iran, detailing an alleged year-long surveillance operation during which they reportedly photographed sensitive military and strategic sites across Israel.
The seven suspects allegedly operated as a cell recruited by an Iranian agent, collecting information and taking photos of key military bases and infrastructure. These included air force bases, Iron Dome defense batteries, ports and major highways, among other sensitive sites, prosecutors said.
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Suspected Iranian spy ring members brought before court via video link
(Photo: Gil Nechushtan)
The group’s suspected leader, Aziz Nisanov, 43, from Haifa, allegedly maintained contact with two Iranian handlers, recruiting additional members for the cell. His deputy, Alexander Sadikov, 58, also from Haifa, was reportedly responsible for coordinating assignments and distributing payments. Other defendants include Nisanov’s son, Yigal Nisan, 20; Vyacheslav Gushchin, 46, of Haifa; Yevgeny Yoffe, 47, from Nof HaGalil; and two minors aged 16 and 17.
September 2023
Military base near Ashkelon
Haifa Port
Ramat David Airbase
October 2023
Haifa Port
November 2023
11/10 - Ramat David Airbase
11/17 - Observation balloon near Golani Junction, Ein Shemer Base
11/21 - Haifa Port
11/23 - Observation balloon near Golani Junction
11/28 - Ein Shemer Base
11/29 - Ein Shemer Base
December 2023
12/4 - Base near Be’er Tuvia
12/5 - Ashdod Port
12/6 - Haifa Port
12/7 - Palmachim Airbase, Ashdod Port
12/7 - Base near Kiryat Gat
12/8 - Base near Kiryat Gat
12/9 - Ashdod Port
12/11 - Planes flying near Nevatim
12/21-25 - Eilat, including Eilat Port
12/25 - Ship at Eilat’s military port
12/30 - Government complex in Haifa
January 2024
1/2-5 - Bases near Eilat and Eilat Port
1/3 - Base near Mitzpe Ramon
1/17-21 - Bases near Eilat and Eilat Port
1/25-29 - Bases near Eilat and Eilat Port
1/29 - Na’ura Base
February 2024
2/12 - Haifa Port
2/17 - Ramat David
2/18 - Haifa Port, Na’ura Base, Ramat David
2/20 - Ramat David, Haifa Port, Mount Meron air traffic control base
2/22 - Tank transport truck, parking area at Tsnobar logistics base in the Golan
2/29 - Haifa Port
March 2024
3/4 - Military base on Mount Avital in the Golan
3/10 - Palmachim Base
3/12 - Base in Emek Hefer
3/28 - Base near Kiryat Gat, Nevatim Base
Also in March: Iron Dome installations on Mount Carmel, Kiryat Yam area, Ofakim area, Hadera area and Hadera Power Plant
April 2024
4/2 - Elyakim Base
4/5 - Iron Dome
4/11 - Iron Dome
4/16 - Palmachim Base
4/17 - Base near Mitzpe Ramon
4/30 - Mitzpe Ramon air traffic control base, Uvda Base
Also in April: Power plant near Elyakim, Eilat Port, Nevatim Base
May 2024
5/1-8 - Eilat Port
5/1 - Uvda Base
5/3 - Tel Nof Base
5/8 - Uvda Base, base near Mitzpe Ramon, Tzukei Uvda Base
5/10-12 - Ein Shemer Base
5/15 - Palmachim Base, Ashdod Port
5/17 - Ashdod Port
5/19 - Ashdod Port
5/24-25 - Eilat Port, access road to Jordan border crossing
5/25 - Flight training in southern Israel
5/29 - Israel Aerospace Industries offices
Also in May: Iron Dome battery near Hadera
June 2024
6/2 - Haifa Port
6/8 - Mount Meron air traffic control base
6/6-7 - Haifa Port
6/9 - Observation balloon near Golani Junction
6/10 - Haifa Port
6/12 - Haifa Port
6/13 - Observation balloon near Golani Junction, Ramat David Base
6/14 - Haifa Port
6/16 - Elyakim Base
6/17 - Iron Dome battery
6/18 - Ramat David Base, Noble Energy facility at Ashdod Port
6/19-20 - Eilat Port, base near Eilat, Jordanian port and road to Jordan border crossing
6/20 - Nevatim Base
6/21 - Noble Energy facility at Ashdod Port
6/23-24 - Ramat David Base
6/24 - Military base near Kiryat Gat
6/25-26 - Nevatim Base
Also in June: Military complex in southern Haifa, Iron Dome battery and radar between Ofakim and Netivot
July 2024
7/2 - Ashdod Port, Glilot complex
7/6 - Travel route from Acre to Kiryat Shmona, then to Nahariya and Haifa
7/11 - Ashdod Port, Glilot complex
7/13 - Haifa Port
7/16 - Haifa Port
7/18 - Ashdod Port
7/20 - Haifa Port
7/22 - Tel Nof Base
7/23-24 - Haifa Port
7/24 - Tel Nof Base
7/25 - Ashdod Port
7/27-30 - Haifa Port
Also in July: Additional base, Iron Dome battery on Mount Carmel
August 2024
8/1 - Ashdod Port, base near Ramat Aviv
8/2 - Ein Shemer Base
8/3 - Hadera Power Plant, Ein Shemer Base
8/4 - Ashdod Port
8/5 - Haifa Port, Nevatim Base
8/6 - Nevatim Base
8/7 - Haifa Port, Nevatim Base
8/8 - Glilot complex, base near Ramat Aviv
8/10 - Ashdod Port, Nevatim Base
8/12-14 - Glilot complex
8/12 - Base near Ramat Aviv
8/14 - Ashdod Port, Palmachim Base
8/16 - Ashdod Port
8/19 - Glilot complex, base near Ramat Aviv
8/20 - Ashdod Port
8/21 - Glilot complex, roads between Herzliya and Tel Aviv
8/22 - Nevatim Base
8/24 - Ashdod Port, Palmachim Base
8/26 - Ein Shemer Base, Eilat Port
8/27-28 - Ashdod Port, Ein Shemer Base
8/28 - Na’ura Base
8/30 - Ashdod Port, Ein Shemer Base
8/31 - Ein Shemer Base
September 2024
9/1-4 - Nevatim Airbase, Ashdod Port
9/1 - Tel Nof Airbase
9/1 - Palmachim Airbase
9/6-8 - Nevatim Base
9/6 - Palmachim Base, Ashdod Port
9/8 - Palmachim Base, Ashdod Port
9/9 - Palmachim Base, Ashdod Port
9/11-12 - Uvda Base
9/11 - Mitzpe Ramon air traffic control base
9/12 - Hatzor Airbase, Eilat Port, Ashdod Port
9/13 - Haifa Port
9/12-13 - Hadera Power Plant
9/13 - Ashdod Port, Iron Dome battery
9/16 - Ashdod Port, Haifa Port
9/18 - Haifa Port
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