| Part of Iran–Israel proxy conflict | |
| Date | 30 May 2022 (travel advisory) 13 June 2022 (Mossad rescue operation) 14 June 2022 (arrests made) 23 June 2022 (arrests made public) |
|---|---|
| Location | Istanbul |
| Type | Terrorism |
| Cause | Assassination of Hassan Sayyad Khodaei |
| Target | Israeli tourists |
| Accused | Iranian intelligence |
The 2022 Istanbul terror plot was a terror plot uncovered by Mossad and the National Intelligence Organization. The plot consisted of an Iranian-led terror cell which planned to kidnap, murder, and assault Israeli tourists in Istanbul. Israel had given advisories against travelling to Turkey on 30 May and upgraded the advisory on 13 June, amid threats made by Iran. [1] [2] Israel later told its citizens in Turkey to lock their doors after a couple had to be transported following a tip of an Iranian terror cell waiting to kidnap them. [3] Several suspects were arrested on 14 June in Istanbul, while the arrests were made public the 23 of June.
In May, Israeli and Turkish security agencies foiled an Iranian plot to kidnap Israeli tourists in Turkey. [4]
On 30 May, Israel issued a travel warning on non-essential on Turkey due to Iranian threats of revenge following the assassination of Khodaei. [5]
On 13 June, an Israeli couple at a market were called and told on by Mossad to stay where they were due to an Iranian terror cell waiting for them at their hotel to kidnap them. It was reported that they were transported to Istanbul Airport, where they were put on a flight back to Israel. It was later reported that they were extensively questioned afterwards. [3] In the aftermath of the rescue operation, Israel told its citizens to evacuate Istanbul and Turkey immediately. [6] [7] They were also told to postpone future trips to Turkey until further notice. [8]
On 23 June 2022, the National Intelligence Organization of Turkey announced that 10 Iranian and Turkish operatives had been detained in Istanbul's Beyoğlu area following multiple raids and weapons seizure. [9] [10] Local security forces reported that Iranian agents were still at large and that a former Israeli ambassador and his wife were allegedly targeted. [11] [2] It was later uncovered that the suspects had been arrested on 14 July near Taksim Square.
Foreign Minister of Israel Yair Lapid thanked Turkish officials and forces for helping to uncover a conspiracy to harm Israelis. [12] 
The Iranian Foreign Ministry denied Israeli and Turkish claims of a plot, rendering them 'baseless'. [13] [14] 
Turkish media reported that Iran had paid the agents. [15] 
A series of Islamist terrorist attacks linked to al-Qaeda were planned to occur on or near January 1, 2000, in the context of millennium celebrations, including bombing plots against four tourist sites in Jordan, the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), USS The Sullivans, and the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814.
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Various conspiracy theories allege that certain institutions or individuals had foreknowledge of the September 11 attacks in the United States in 2001. Some of the primary debates include whether the Bush administration or the United States Armed Forces had awareness of the planned attack methods, the precise volume of intelligence that American agencies had regarding al-Qaeda activities inside the United States, whether the put options placed on United Airlines and American Airlines and other trades indicated foreknowledge, and why the identities of the traders have never been made public.
The 2009 Hezbollah plot in Egypt involved the arrest of 49 men by Egyptian authorities in the five months preceding April 2009. Egypt accused them of being Hezbollah agents planning attacks against Israeli and Egyptian targets in the Sinai Peninsula. The arrests led to tensions between the Egyptian government and Hezbollah, as well as between Egypt and Iran.
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The Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations, popularly known as Mossad, is the national intelligence agency of the State of Israel. It is one of the main entities in the Israeli Intelligence Community, along with Aman and Shin Bet.
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The 2010 European terror plot was an alleged al-Qaeda plot to launch "commando-style" terror attacks on the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. The existence of the plot was revealed in late September 2010 after it was disrupted by intelligence agencies. Thought to be ordered by Osama bin Laden himself, the plot led to an unprecedented increase in drone attacks in Pakistan and travel advisories from several countries to their citizens to be careful while traveling in Europe.
The 2012 Burgas bus bombing was a terrorist attack carried out by a suicide bomber on a passenger bus transporting Israeli tourists at the Burgas Airport in Burgas, Bulgaria, on 18 July 2012. The bus was carrying 42 Israelis, mainly youths, from the airport to their hotels, after arriving on a flight from Tel Aviv. The explosion killed the Bulgarian bus driver and five Israelis and injured 32 Israelis, resulting in international condemnation of the bombing.
On July 7, 2012, local authorities arrested Lebanese-born Swedish citizen Hossam Yaakoub in Limassol, Cyprus. Yaakoub admitted to being a member of the Shi'a Islamic militant group Hezbollah, who had been tasked with surveilling the activities of Israeli tourists on the island. Israel condemned the incident as an attempted terrorist attack.
The Iran–Israel proxy conflict, also known as the Iran–Israel proxy war or Iran–Israel Cold War, is an ongoing proxy conflict between Iran and Israel. In the Israeli–Lebanese conflict, Iran has supported Lebanese Shia militias, most notably Hezbollah. In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iran has backed Palestinian groups such as Hamas. Israel has supported Iranian rebels, such as the People's Mujahedin of Iran, conducted airstrikes against Iranian allies in Syria and assassinated Iranian nuclear scientists. In 2018 Israeli forces directly attacked Iranian forces in Syria.
The fight against terrorisminAzerbaijan is one of Azerbaijan's declared priorities. International organizations banned as terrorist include Al Qaeda, Al-Nusra Front, Jamaat, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Islamic International Brigade, ISIS, Jeyshullah, and PKK. According to the Global Terrorism Database, seven people have been killed and over 20 injured in terrorist attacks from 2000 to 2015.
On 19 March 2016, a suicide bombing took place in Istanbul's Beyoğlu district in front of the district governor's office. The attack occurred at 10:55 (EET) at the intersection of Balo Street with İstiklal Avenue, a central shopping street. The attack caused at least five deaths, including that of the perpetrator. Thirty-six people were injured, including seven whose injuries were severe. Among those injured were twelve foreign tourists. Among those killed, three were of Israeli nationality. On 22 March, the Turkish interior minister said that the bomber had links with ISIL.
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On December 10, 2023, Cyprus Police, after a surveillance operation in co-ordination with the Cypriot Intelligence Service and information from Mossad, arrested two operatives of the Iranian quds force who were surveilling Israeli targets for a possible attack.
Israeli, Turkish security forces working to nab Iranian agents still thought to be in country; Ankara said to convey 'blunt' warning to Tehran not to use its territory for attacks
Death squad comprising of[ sic ] "eight suspects, including Iranian nationals, who were plotting attacks on Israeli citizens in Turkey."
Agents, including some Iranian nationals, reportedly arrested last week in raid in Beyoglu district of Istanbul; ex-diplomat and his wife said targeted in plot
Israeli security source briefing reporters notes situation stabilizing in Turkey but predicts travel warning will remain in place for now as Iranian agents remain at large
Turkish authorities arrested Iranians suspected of planning attacks on Israeli tourists and businesspeople with pistols and silencers.
