Israeli police and Shin Bet security service said they had arrested a reservist who served in the Iron Dome air defense unit for transferring sensitive security information regarding his military service to Iranian intelligence handlers in exchange for payment.
Iron dome batteries in southern Israel.Credit: Eliahu Hershkovitz
Iron dome batteries in southern Israel.Credit: Eliahu Hershkovitz
The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Jerusalem resident Raz Cohen, was detained in a joint operation by the police's Lahav 433 major crimes unit and the Shin Bet. Investigators said Cohen had been in contact with Iranian intelligence officials for several months and carried out various security-related tasks at their direction.
Israel's Foreign Ministry announced that six additional countries have recognized Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization.
Among the countries are Iceland, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Liechtenstein.
These countries join Ukraine and Albania, which have also recently taken this step.
The decision also includes freezing assets and economic resources of the Revolutionary Guards and elements associated with the organization and restrictions on movement and residence in the countries.
Israeli police clashed with Palestinians gathered for prayers outside Jerusalem's Old City on Friday, the first day of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan.
Eid al-Fitr prayers in the streets of Jerusalem Friday, where Israeli police threw stun grenades at worshippers who tried to reach the Old City.@moskharouf
The worshippers had assembled outside the Old City after Israel closed the Al-Aqsa compound and other holy sites in the city following the start of the war with Iran.
The Israeli Health Ministry reported on Friday that 4,099 people have been evacuated to hospitals since the beginning of the war with Iran, with 80 currently hospitalized.
Hospital workers and children don costumes for the Purim celebrations, at Schneider Children Medical Center, in Petah Tikva, central Israel, early March.Credit: AFP/MAYA LEVINHospital workers and children don costumes for the Purim celebrations, at Schneider Children Medical Center, in Petah Tikva, central Israel, early March.Credit: AFP/MAYA LEVIN
Of those, one person is in critical condition, not as a direct result of missile fire, eight are in serious condition, eleven are in moderate condition and 60 are lightly wounded.
A woman is helped to leave the scene of a missile attack in Bet Shemesh, some 30 kilometres west of Jerusalem, early March.Credit: AFP/JOHN WESSELSA woman is helped to leave the scene of a missile attack in Bet Shemesh, some 30 kilometres west of Jerusalem, early March.Credit: AFP/JOHN WESSELS
Over the past 24 hours, hospitals received 150 casualties, including two in serious condition, two in moderate condition, 136 lightly wounded and 10 suffering from anxiety.
Israeli emergency service officers remove a body bag from the scene of a missile attack near Bet Shemesh, some 30 kilometres west of Jerusalem, early March.Credit: AFP/AHMAD GHARABLIIsraeli emergency service officers remove a body bag from the scene of a missile attack near Bet Shemesh, some 30 kilometres west of Jerusalem, early March.Credit: AFP/AHMAD GHARABLI
The latest missile barrage from Iran was intercepted, according to reports. The Israeli defense establishment suspects that a cluster missile was used.
Entrance to a protected area in Tel Aviv, Friday morning.Credit: Tomer AppelbaumEntrance to a protected area in Tel Aviv, Friday morning.Credit: Tomer Appelbaum
Israeli emergency services said that no wounded were reported; however, reports were received of people wounded on the way to protected areas.
Home Front Command initially announced that sirens would be activated in larger areas in the center, in the Jerusalem area, in the West Bank and around the Dead Sea. This was about half an hour after sirens were activated in the West Bank and in the center.