A Court in Peru Issues Arrest Warrant for Iranian Suspect in Plot to Kill Israelis

A judge in Peru issued an 18-month preventive detention order on Wednesday for an Iranian citizen and two Peruvians accused of attempting to kill two Israelis residing in the South American country. According to the Associated Press, the order was issued on Tuesday but reported on Wednesday, as the defendants are still undergoing legal proceedings and interrogations. Peruvian police had previously reported the arrest of an Iranian named Majid Azizi for allegedly organizing a 'terrorist cell' to assassinate an Israeli at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The head of the Peruvian police stated that the arrests were made following investigations and in coordination with international intelligence agencies, which provided confidential information about Azizi, who entered Peru in March. Although the assassination plot was unsuccessful, Peruvian police and prosecutors believe that Majid Azizi may be a member of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is responsible for operations outside of Iran. The other Israeli citizen in Peru, who is said to have been targeted by Azizi and his accomplices, is Gilad Dachouni, who opened a café in Cusco in 2006 with his twin brother. The U.S. State Department's latest report on global terrorism in 2022 stated that the Islamic Republic remains the 'largest state sponsor of terrorism' and a facilitator of terrorist activities worldwide. The report noted the history of Hezbollah's activities in the Western Hemisphere, stating that supporters and members of this Iran-backed group have been identified in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Panama, Peru, and the United States.