Over 50 Assassination Attempts Against Jews 'Ordered by Khamenei'; Gallant: We Foiled the Plots

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated on Thursday that the Islamic Republic, 'by Khamenei's order,' has committed over 50 assassination attempts against Jews worldwide in recent years. According to Gallant, most of these assassinations were thwarted at the last minute during the Islamic Republic's 'unprecedented global terror campaign,' primarily targeting Israelis and Jews around the globe. Speaking after a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku, Gallant added that the Islamic Republic's plots have been neutralized with the help of Israel's defense forces, close cooperation with foreign countries, and an understanding of Iran's ongoing threat to the world. The Israeli Defense Minister noted that his country's efforts to counter the Islamic Republic's assassination plans coincide with Jerusalem's efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and Tehran's attempts to smuggle arms to its proxies near Israel's borders. Gallant also mentioned on Wednesday night, prior to his departure to Azerbaijan, that he would 'precisely' discuss the threats of an Iranian nuclear weapon with officials in that country. Gallant's visit to Iran's northern neighbor comes as Azerbaijan's intelligence agency reported on Monday the arrest of an Afghan citizen named Fawzan Musi Khan for conspiring with several others to carry out a terrorist attack against a third country's embassy in Baku. According to Azerbaijan's intelligence agency, this Afghan citizen intended to use explosives and other weapons in his attack. Initially, the agency did not name the embassy but later confirmed that it was the Israeli embassy that was the target of the plot. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen also identified the Islamic Republic as the mastermind behind the plot to attack his country's embassy in Baku. Jerusalem and Baku have close relations, and Israel is one of the main arms suppliers to Azerbaijan. Earlier this year, Azerbaijan opened its embassy in Tel Aviv. The Mossad obtained a confession from 'Yousef Shahbazi Abbasali Lou' regarding the 'assassination plot against Israelis.' Cyprus thwarted an attack by elements linked to the IRGC against 'Jews and Israelis.' Eleven people were arrested in Istanbul; Turkey claims to have identified a Mossad espionage network. A verbal war escalated; 'Iran' sought an explanation, while 'Azerbaijan' accused Iran of 'terrorist operations.' The foreign ministers of Israel, Greece, and Cyprus discussed the threats posed by the Islamic Republic. The British Security Minister stated that the Islamic Republic employs criminals to spy on British Jews. Catherine Shakdam noted that the Islamic Republic has been 'mapping' Jewish neighborhoods.