Israel, Partners Foiled 27 Iranian Terror Plots in Last Year

Latest Developments

Israel’s intelligence services and their foreign partners have foiled 27 Iranian-orchestrated terrorist plots over the last year, Mossad director David Barnea revealed on September 10. Addressing the World Summit on Counter-Terrorism at Reichman University, Barnea said Tehran has been stepping up its efforts to mount attacks on Israelis, Jews, and Iranian dissidents abroad as a “worthwhile tool in achieving its ultimate goal of propping up the Ayatollah regime and acquiring power and control.” The disclosure comes as Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi prepares to address the United Nations General Assembly later this month, where he will likely seek to rehabilitate the clerical regime’s image.

Since September 2022, Iranian-sponsored terrorist squads have tried to carry out attacks in Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America, Barnea disclosed, crediting cooperation among Israel’s intelligence agencies and foreign partners for thwarting them. He added that Tehran had tasked some of the terrorists with targeting specific people and offered bounties of thousands of dollars for every Israeli attacked.

Barnea warned the Iranian leadership, “from the bottom all the way to the top,” that Israel would retaliate against them directly for “any harm done to any Israeli or Jew in any way whatsoever.” Without elaborating, he added, “Be assured that we will get to you, and justice will be done for all to see. This has been proven in the past, and in the future, we will ramp it up to the next level.”

Expert Analysis

“Israeli vigilance is clearly at a peak. Alerts about potential Iranian terrorist attacks are soaring ahead of the Jewish High Holy Days. Tehran is looking likely to grow even bolder as world powers accommodate its nuclear violations and UN curbs on its surface-to-surface missile dealings expire next month. In January 2022, then Prime Minister Naftali Bennett unveiled his so-called ‘octopus doctrine,’ under which Israel openly voiced readiness to take the counter-terrorism fight to Tehran. Now Israel is putting the world on notice that, due to Iranian brazenness, that fight will escalate.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“Washington should keep in mind that Iran is also plotting to kill and kidnap American citizens on a daily basis, including former senior officials. What’s shocking is that the White House would green-light billions of dollars in sanctions relief to help subsidize Iran’s terror sponsorship.” — Richard Goldberg, FDD Senior Advisor

“The Mossad chief’s disclosures are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to intelligence cooperation between Israel and foreign partners — some of which do not have official diplomatic relations with Jerusalem. The national security professionals have no doubt about the mayhem that Iran seeks to cause around the world. Policymakers would be wise to heed their counsel rather than ease pressure on Tehran in the hope the problem will simply disappear.” — Tzvi Kahn, FDD Research Fellow and Senior Editor

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“The White House Must Close Its Hostage Bazaar With Iran And Russia,” by Peter Doran

“Israel Arrests Four Citizens for Smuggling Iran-Made Explosives,” FDD Flash Brief

“Raisi Addresses UN Despite Grim Human Rights Record,” FDD Flash Brief