Israel Confirms Discovery of Islamic Republic's Plot to Assassinate Its Citizens in Cyprus

A Cypriot newspaper reported on Sunday, December 10, that two Iranians have been arrested in Cyprus for questioning due to a conspiracy to attack Israeli citizens residing in Cyprus. The Prime Minister's Office of Israel confirmed this news, stating that the discovery of this plot was made in collaboration with the intelligence services of both countries. The Cypriot newspaper 'Kathimerini' reported, without citing sources, that these two individuals are believed to be in the early stages of gathering information about an attack on Israelis in the country. The newspaper added that they are political refugees who have been in contact with an individual linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is on the U.S. terrorist organizations list. Reuters reported that a senior Cypriot official refrained from commenting, citing the country's policy on national security issues. According to the 'Jewish News Syndicate' and 'Times of Israel', Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed the Cypriot newspaper's report on the Islamic Republic's conspiracy to target Israeli citizens in the country, stating that Cypriot security officials, in collaboration with Mossad, thwarted this plot. The statement from the Prime Minister's Office indicated that intelligence gathering in a joint counter-terrorism operation between the two countries 'led to the discovery of the operational core of this plot, its operational methods and objectives, and other conspiracies by the Islamic Republic to kill innocent people in Cyprus and other countries.' The Israeli National Security Council also stated that since the start of the war against Hamas on October 6, many Israelis have temporarily relocated to Cyprus, and the presence of the Islamic Republic for terrorist purposes in Northern Cyprus, which is not part of the international legal order, is concerning. Hamas militants killed at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in missile attacks on Israel on October 6 and took around 240 hostages, including children, women, and the elderly. The international community, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Israel, has listed Hamas as a terrorist organization. This is not the first time that agents of the Islamic Republic have infiltrated Cyprus to kill Israeli citizens, which is a suitable location for vacations and investments for Israelis, being about a 40-minute flight away. Voice of America reported on July 15, citing a senior Cypriot official, that police investigations in the country confirm Mossad's claims of planning 'a terrorist cell supported by the Islamic Republic' to kill Israelis and other Jews in Cyprus. According to the 'Jewish Syndicate', Youssef Shahbazi Abbasalilou, head of the Islamic Republic's strike team, was arrested by Mossad agents in Iran. He confessed during investigations that he was sent to attack Israeli traders in Cyprus. According to this report, Mossad provided this information to Cypriot officials, and their intelligence services thwarted the plot. Additionally, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office reported in October 2021 about the Islamic Republic's plot to assassinate Teddy Sagi, an Israeli billionaire in Cyprus. The office of then-Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stated that the failed attempt to assassinate Sagi was part of 'a planned terrorist action by the Islamic Republic against Israeli traders residing in Cyprus.' In late October, four Syrians were arrested in Cyprus after throwing a bomb 30 meters from the Israeli embassy in Nicosia. This 'homemade bomb' exploded around 1:30 AM local time. Following this explosion, two individuals walking near the Israeli embassy and two others in a vehicle were arrested. Mossad and security services thwarted Hezbollah's terrorist attack plan in Brazil. The head of Mossad stated: 'We will target those responsible for attempts to attack Israel in the heart of Tehran.' The Cypriot police confirmed Mossad's claims regarding the 'plot to assassinate Jews by the Islamic Republic.' Mossad obtained a confession from 'Youssef Shahbazi Abbasalilou' regarding the 'assassination plot against Israelis.' Cyprus thwarted the attack by agents linked to the IRGC against 'Jews and Israelis.' Netanyahu welcomed the thwarting of the 'Islamic Republic's terrorist attack' against Israelis in Cyprus.