Jerusalem (The Times Groupe)- Israeli officials warned Friday that there were “concrete” threats that Iran was trying to carry out a terror attack on Israelis in Turkey’s Istanbul over the weekend. turkey Israelis
Politicians and security officials spoke on condition of anonymity after Israel urged its citizens in Turkey to return home and issued its highest security warning for Istanbul due to concerns that Iranian agents were planning to kill or kidnap Israeli citizens.
As the warnings appeared in the press, there were reports that Israeli and Turkish intelligence agencies had already thwarted several planned attacks by Iranian agents, nabbing some of the suspects.
Officials in Israel warned Friday that Iran was attempting to carry out a terror attack on Israelis in Istanbul over the weekend, urging all citizens to leave the country immediately.
Political and security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, issued the warnings after Israel, concerned that Iran is planning to kill or kidnap Israeli citizens in Turkey, urged them to return home immediately.
Israeli and Turkish intelligence had already thwarted several planned attacks by a broad network of Iranian agents, nabbing some of the suspects, according to unverified press reports.
According to Israeli officials, Iran was planning a wide range of attacks over the weekend, especially in Istanbul, and had instructed Iranians and Turkish recruits to target Israelis wherever they could “at any cost.”
Israelis could be targeted in any place, including hotels, restaurants, and other entertainment venues, and were urged to leave Istanbul as soon as possible.
Those who couldn’t leave were told to lock themselves in their hotel rooms and hide their Israeli identity.
Approximately 2,000 Israelis live in Turkey at the moment.
Several officials told Channel 12 that Israeli agents were working with Turkish counterparts to thwart the attacks, noting excellent cooperation with local officials.
“A manhunt is currently underway in Istanbul to stop an incident that has already begun,” according to the report.
It is like playing Russian roulette right now [for an Israeli] to be in Istanbul. If we could publicize the full operational picture, [Israelis] would be fleeing as they would a fire,” the senior official told Channel 12.
“We are in the midst of a rolling event in Istanbul,” a senior security official told the Ynet news site. “Cells of Iranians and Turkish mercenaries are out searching for Israelis at any cost.”
“We can’t foil every single attack; I urge Israelis to return home,” he said.
Apparently in revenge for the slayings of senior officers and others attributed to Israel, the Iranians have been planning attacks for months.
According to Hebrew media, the Iranian official behind the planned attacks is Hossein Taeb, the head of the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Despite repeated Israeli success in penetrating Iran’s most secret organizations, Taeb is under intense pressure to launch an attack, according to reports.
If Iran succeeds in hitting Israelis, Israeli officials warned there would be harsh retaliation.
In a rare instruction, Israel’s National Security Council warned Israelis in Turkey not to open their hotel room doors to delivery people, not to post about their travel plans on social media, and not to visit the same tourist traps as everyone else.
A communique issued by the National Security Council on Thursday again urged Israelis to leave Istanbul, where terror warnings are highest, but offered advice to those who remained.
Additionally, the council advised Israeli tourists in Turkey to keep their families at home informed of any planned trips, particularly the hotel they will be staying at. Istanbul