Former PM says Israel smuggled Starlink internet systems into Iran

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stated that Israel smuggled Starlink internet systems into Iran. Bennett revealed this information during an interview on Israel's Channel 12 news on March 18, 2024. He explained that the systems were sent to Iran to aid protestors during the Mahsa Amini protests, which began in September 2022. Bennett indicated that the operation was conducted covertly to avoid direct attribution to Israel. He also mentioned that the systems were intended to bypass government censorship and provide uncensored internet access to Iranian citizens. The former Prime Minister did not specify the exact number of Starlink terminals smuggled or the precise timeline of the operation, but he emphasized its strategic importance in supporting dissent against the Iranian regime. This admission marks a significant acknowledgement of Israeli involvement in providing advanced communication technology to opposition movements in adversarial nations.