What happened: Israeli officials have confirmed that the Mossad in partnership with Cypriot security forces and others, prevented an Iranian attack seeking to target Israeli and Jewish tourists as well as an Israeli businessman based in Cyprus.
- In a statement last night, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said, “Israel commends the thwarting of the Iranian terrorist attack in Cyprus against Israeli targets. The State of Israel is using a wide range of methods everywhere in order to defend Jews and Israelis and will continue to act in order to uproot Iranian terrorism wherever it rears its head, including in Iran, the main fomenter of terrorism in the world.”
- In recent months the Mossad tracked the movement of an Iranian terror cell, revealing that they all arrived in Cyprus from Moscow on separate flights. They convened on the northern Turkish side, before moving over to the Greek controlled part of the island, all the while monitored by Mossad and partners.
- The cell was led by an Iranian known to be a commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The other members of the cell were Pakistanis trained by the IRGC.
- They were in the process of choosing to target a venue frequented by Israeli tourists this summer, as well as an Israeli businessman in Limassol.
- Seven members of the cell were arrested by Cypriot authorities, but the Iranian commander escaped.
- Security forces also raided their safehouse and found equipment that was to be used in an attack, but did not release further details.
Context: The successful prevention is another example of close security cooperation between Israel, the US, Greece and Cyprus.
- This is the second incident in two years of an Iranian plan to target an Israeli businessman in Cyprus.
- The same IRGC commander that escaped was also responsible for that operation too.
- This attack is also similar to another attack foiled two months ago in Greece, that also involved a Pakistani cell recruited and operated by the IRGC. They had planned to attack Chabad House in Athens.
- The use of non-Iranian operatives gives the IRGC plausible deniability.
- Cyprus is a convenient target, also thought to be close and accessible for Hezbollah and with a large Lebanese community among which to try and hide.
- In 2015, a Hezbollah operative (with Lebanese and Canadian citizenship) was sentenced to six years in prison for his role in planning a bomb attack targeting Israelis in Cyprus. When authorities raided the home, they found almost two tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored in 420 boxes in the property’s basement.
Looking ahead: The Mossad and other agencies are expected to continue to search for the IRGC commander who avoided arrest.
- Israelis are advised to be cautious when travelling abroad this summer, with the fear that other IRGC cells could be planning attacks elsewhere.
