Bennett says Israel smuggled Starlink systems into Iran
Naftali Bennett said Israel moved tens of thousands of Starlink internet devices into Iran during his 2021-22 term, Al Jazeera reported.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Israel smuggled tens of thousands of Starlink internet systems into Iran while he was in office, according to Al Jazeera. Bennett said the effort was meant to help anti-government protesters during internet blackouts, the network reported.
The claim, if accurate, points to a covert Israeli role in providing communications tools inside Iran during periods when protesters were facing disruptions to internet access. Al Jazeera reported that Bennett linked the operation to his 2021-22 tenure as prime minister.
What Bennett said
According to Al Jazeera, Bennett said Israel brought the Starlink devices into Iran during the period he led the Israeli government. The report described the quantity as tens of thousands of devices.
Al Jazeera reported that the devices were intended to aid protesters opposed to the Iranian government. The report said the context was internet blackouts, which can limit activists’ ability to communicate and share information.
Bennett served as Israel’s prime minister in 2021 and 2022, according to the report. Al Jazeera did not report additional operational details in its account, including how the devices were moved into Iran or who received them once they were inside the country.
Limited details disclosed
The report did not include a response from Iranian authorities or further comment from Israeli officials beyond Bennett’s statement. It also did not say whether the Starlink systems remained in use, how many were activated, or what effect they had on protests.
Starlink systems provide internet connectivity through satellite-linked equipment. Al Jazeera identified the smuggled equipment as Starlink devices and said Bennett described the transfer as an Israeli operation during his time in office.
The reported admission adds a new detail to public accounts of Israeli activity related to Iran during Bennett’s premiership. Based on Al Jazeera’s report, the central claim is Bennett’s assertion that Israel covertly moved large numbers of internet devices into Iran to help protesters communicate during blackouts.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.