Iran Escalates Crackdown on Accused Israeli Spies With Mass Raid
The arrests are a sign of the uncertainty felt by Iran's security establishment after the Israeli and U.S. attacks.
Authorities have escalated a security crackdown on alleged Mossad agents following the 12-day conflict in which Israel attacked nuclear and military sites across the country, killing top commanders and scientists.
Israel has claimed widespread infiltration into Iranian territory and deemed it crucial for precision strikes during June's 'Operation Rising Lion' in which Iranian air defenses were effectively neutralized.
IRGC ground forces along with security and intelligence agencies conducted the raids in the provinces of Sistan and Baluchestan under an operation named 'Martyrs of Security', the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.
The IRGC did not clarify how two people were killed during the raids. It added that large amounts of weapons, including arms made in the United States, were found in the possession of those arrested.
At least six people had been executed up until last week on charges linked to espionage, such as smuggling equipment and aiding operations targeting major Iranian infrastructure, and 700 arrested, according to state media reports.
Human rights groups say Iran has one of the highest records of executions. Amnesty International described executions over accusations of espionage for Israel as "arbitrary" and called on the government to halt them.
An Israeli security source told Reuters that the strikes on Iran were supported by years of intelligence work by the military and Mossad. In Israel, police arrested five people suspected of spying for Iran, Yedioth Ahronoth's news outlet reported Tuesday.
Iran's outlet IRNA, citing IRGC statement: "The arrested individuals are affiliated with terrorist groups based in the eastern part of the country. Their operational objectives included spreading insecurity throughout the southern province and executing disruptive acts against infrastructure and economic sectors."
Hussein Baoumi, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, on June 20: "Official calls for expediated trials and executions of those arrested for alleged collaboration with Israel show how the Iranian authorities weaponize the death penalty to assert control and instil fear among the people of Iran. The authorities must ensure all those detained are protected from enforced disappearance, torture and other ill-treatment, and afforded fair trials at all times, including during armed conflict."
Authorities say they will continue hunting down more "potential accomplices," according to IRNA.
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