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Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Iran Escalates Crackdown on Accused Israeli Spies With Mass Raid
At least two people have been killed and more than 50 more arrested in a security raid by Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), which said it targeted Israeli-linked "terrorists," Iran's state-run media reported. 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. Related Articles Iran Ready to Enrich Uranium Up to Bomb-Grade Levels: "We Can Do That"Iran Confirms Significant Nuclear DecisionWhile World Watches Iran, Putin Makes Headway in UkraineNew Satellite Image Shows U.S. Aircraft Carrier Deployed Near Iran 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Iran Escalates Crackdown on Accused Israeli Spies With Mass Raid
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. At least two people have been killed and more than 50 more arrested in a security raid by Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), which said it targeted Israeli-linked "terrorists," Iran's state-run media reported. Why It Matters 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. A member of Iran's Revolutionary Guard stands guard at Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) square in downtown Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, June 24, 2025. A member of Iran's Revolutionary Guard stands guard at Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) square in downtown Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, June 24, 2025. Vahid Salemi/AP Photo What To Know 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. What People Are Saying 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." What Happens Next Authorities say they will continue hunting down more "potential accomplices," according to IRNA.
New Straits Times
22-06-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Iran executes man convicted of being spy for Israel: Judiciary
TEHRAN: Iran executed a man on Sunday who was convicted of being an agent for Israel's Mossad spy service, the judiciary said, as the two foes traded fire for a 10th day. "Majid Mosayebi... was hanged this morning after going through the full process of criminal procedure and after his sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court," the judiciary's Mizan Online website said. Mosayebi was accused of seeking to provide "sensitive information... to Mossad." Iran has carried out multiple arrests of people suspected of spying for Israel since the start of its bombing campaign against the Islamic republic on June 13. Later Sunday, judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir said three people had been arrested in the western province of Kermanshah on allegations of espionage. The arrests were made thanks to "the rapid presence of the population and their assistance to the intelligence services, law enforcement agencies and judicial officers", he said. "One of them is said to be a national of a European country," he added, quoted by Mizan. Jahangir also announced that "special judicial branches would be formed" in provincial prosecutors' offices and courts to handle Israeli-linked espionage cases on an "extraordinary" basis.
India Today
22-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Major US cities on high alert after airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities
Major United States cities, including New York and Washington, have been placed on high alert after American airstrikes hit three Iranian nuclear sites — a dramatic turn in the rapidly escalating Middle East enforcement agencies have stated there are no specific or credible threats so far, but additional patrols and precautions are being taken around religious, diplomatic, and cultural New York Police Department (NYPD), in a post on X, said it is "tracking the situation unfolding in Iran, and has deployed additional resources across the city out of an abundance of caution". The department also said it was working in coordination with federal partners and would continue monitoring for any potential impact to New York City. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Washington, DC, released a similar advisory, noting increased coordination with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to share intelligence and ensure the safety of residents, visitors, and businesses. While MPD reported no known threats, it confirmed an increased police presence around religious Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass also weighed in, stating that city authorities are 'closely monitoring any threats to public safety' in the aftermath of the US military are no known credible threats at this time and out of an abundance of caution, LAPD is stepping up patrols near places of worship, community gathering spaces and other sensitive sites. We will remain vigilant in protecting our communities," Bass wrote in a Mauro, a former NYPD Inspector, told Fox News that law enforcement is likely giving "special attention" to locations tied to communities potentially impacted by the strike. "You never know what's going to develop," he said, referring to patrols at both Israeli-linked sites and Shia mosques, given Iran's Shia AVOID MIDDLE EASTSeveral international airlines diverted flights away from large swathes of the Middle East on Sunday, following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Data from tracking platform FlightRadar24 showed a notable shift in flight paths, with aircraft rerouting to avoid Iranian and nearby airspace."Following US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, commercial traffic in the region is operating as it has since new airspace restrictions were put into place last week," FlightRadar24 said on social media platform tracking data showed a near-total absence of commercial air traffic over Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Israel, as airlines opted for alternate routes — either north via the Caspian Sea or south through Egypt and Saudi a televised address from the White House, US President Donald Trump announced that the American air force struck Iran's three main nuclear sites: Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow."Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks would be far greater and a lot easier. Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight's was the most difficult of them all by far, and perhaps the most lethal," the President to Fox News, Trump said that six bunker-buster bombs were dropped on Fordow, while 30 Tomahawk missiles were fired against other nuclear sites. US B-2 bombers were involved in the strikes, an official told news agency Watch
Euronews
19-06-2025
- Business
- Euronews
How the Israel-Iran conflict is developing in cyberspace
As the conflict between Israel and Iran approaches the first-week mark, both countries are leaning into cyberspace to launch attacks. A possible Israeli-linked hacking group has claimed responsibility for disrupting operations at an Iranian bank and flooding the crypto market with approximately $90 million (€77 million) in stolen funds. Meanwhile, Israeli officials reported fake messages sent to the public alerting them of terrorist attacks against bomb shelters to sow panic. Both countries are also known for having a long history of cyberattacks against each other, according to US-based cybersecurity firm Radware. 'In the days since the fighting began, government-backed hackers, patriotic hacktivists, online propagandists, and opportunistic cybercriminals have all been active,' the company said in its threat alert dated June 18. The anti-Iranian hacking group with possible ties to Israel,Gonjeshke Darande, or 'Predatory Sparrow,' claimed an attack on one of Iran's most prominent banks, Bank Sepah, this week, according to a statement they published on X. Iranian media reported at the time that people had difficulties accessing their accounts, withdrawing cash or using their bank cards. The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Bank Sepah in 2018 for supporting Iran's military. The hacking group then went after Nobitex, one of Iran's main cryptocurrency exchanges. The group claimed they burned $90 million from accounts that belong to the Israeli regime and, by Thursday morning, had posted the source code for the platform. In a statement on X posted on Wednesday, Nobitex claimed that the assets were transferred to a wallet 'composed of arbitrary characters,' an approach they say 'deviates significantly from conventional crypto exchange hacks'. 'It is clear the intention behind this attack was to harm the peace of mind and assets of our fellow citizens under false pretences,' Nobitex wrote. Nobitex estimates the amount stolen is closer to $100 million (€87 million) The Iranian government has asked people to delete the social messaging app WhatsApp and has begun internet blackouts that have taken the country offline for 'over 12 hours' due to 'Israel's alleged 'misuse' of the network for military purposes,' according to internet monitoring companies Netblocks and Censys. Iran's Tasnim News Agency, a news service associated with the Iranian military, claimed the Internet blackouts are 'temporary' due to the 'special conditions of the country,' and that it will come back when the 'situation returns to normal'. Gonjeshke Darande has been linked to other cyber attacks in Iran, like the 2010 Stuxnet attack. Stuxnet was a computer virus that damaged or destroyed the centrifuges, a key component used to enrich uranium, at Iran's uranium enrichment facilities in Natanz, one of the facilities targeted in the recent missile fire from Israel. US media reports believe Stuxnet was carried out by Israel with support from the United States, who built the program. It's also believed that Israel's Defence Forces Unit 8200 was involved in the attack, according to Reuters. Gonjeshke Darande has also taken credit for other cyber attacks against Iran, such as the 2022 attack on Iran's steel plants and the 2023 attack on gas stations. At the time of the steel plant cyber attacks, Gonjeshke Darande released on social media what they called 'top secret documents and tens of thousands of emails' from Iran's three leading companies to show how the firms were working with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a primary branch of Iran's military. Israeli media reported people receiving fraudulent text messages claiming to come from the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) Home Front Command that warned of attacks onbomb shelters. The messages from OREFAlert were identified as fake by the Israeli authorities, who claim pro-Iranian groups are behind it as a way to sow panic during the operation against the Iranian military, called Operation Rising Lion. Another fake message circulated that said fuel supplies would be suspended for 24 hours, according to the Jerusalem Post. Ron Meyran, the VP of Cyber Threat Intelligence at US-based cybersecurity firm Radware, told the newspaper that there was a 700 per cent increase in cyberattacks against Israel in the first two days of the conflict with Iran, which comes from cyber retaliation from Iranian state actors. Those actions include infiltration attempts targeting critical infrastructure, data theft and malware distribution, Meyran added. Euronews Next reached out to Radware to independently confirm these numbers but did not hear back at the time of publication. A report from Radware says it expects Iran to make use of 'its well-developed network of fake social media personas to shape perceptions of the conflict.' 'During this crisis, observers have seen pro-Iran bot accounts amplifying hashtags about alleged Israeli atrocities and portraying Iran's actions as defensive,' the report said. The bots 'frequently pose as ordinary citizens to make the messaging more persuasive,' it added. Radware also noted in its report that at least 60 of the 100 hacktivist groups that have sprung up since the start of the conflict last week are pro-Iran and are either from the Middle East or Asia. These groups have launched 30 denial of service (DDos) attacks per day against Israel that disrupt normal traffic to a website, Radware found. Some of these groups have also threatened cyber attacks against the United Kingdom and the United States if leadership there decides to 'join the war against Iran'. Iran has a 'considerable number' of state-sponsored threat groups that have targeted Israel in the past, like Muddy Water, APT35 (OilRig), APT35 (Charming Kitten) and APT39 (Remix Kitten), the Radware report continued. These groups, with the help of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, have targeted Israeli infrastructure, conducted malware campaigns and cyberespionage according to local media. These cyber attacks increased following the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza in 2023, according to a 2024 report by Microsoft. A SpaceX rocket being tested in Texas exploded Wednesday night, sending a dramatic fireball high into the sky. The company said the Starship 'experienced a major anomaly' at about 11 pm local time while on the test stand preparing for the tenth flight test at Starbase, SpaceX's launch site at the southern tip of Texas. 'A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for,' SpaceX said in a statement on the social platform X. Elon Musk's company SpaceX said there were no hazards to nearby communities. It asked people not to try to approach the site. The company said it is working with local officials to respond to the explosion.
