The travel warning to Turkey is still valid: a security source emphasizes that there is still a grave concern that terrorist cells have not yet been captured. Turkish security forces arrested three Iranian squads – one of which was about to murder Israelis in a market in Istanbul and was captured at the last minute. Another squad planned to harm the former ambassador and his wife, and a third large squad that also included Turkish citizens and planned to assassinate Israelis living in Turkey.
Frustration of the attack in Istanbul: Three Iranian squads operated in the city – one of them was a few minutes away from hitting Israeli tourists in the bazaar@ roysharon11 @RonenManelis # This week pic.twitter.com/EpGVg4CZ9d
– News here (@kann_news) June 24, 2022
The Tehran Foreign Ministry responded by saying: “The Israeli allegations that an Iranian plot was thwarted to harm Israelis are ridiculous, and were intended to harm our relations with Turkey.” Yesterday it was reported in the evening news here 11 that pressure is being exerted to remove the unusual travel warning on Istanbul after the arrest of the Iranian squads. About a week ago, the National Security Council raised the level of travel warnings to Istanbul to the highest level.
This issue also came up in the talks of Foreign Minister Yair Lapid in Turkey yesterday. The defense establishment says there are still alerts about squads in the area, despite the significant arrests made. However, a senior Israeli official says: Removing the warning depends on the professionals – we are nearing the end.
Turkish media released documents documenting the arrest of the Iranian cell yesterday. Five Iranian civilians staying in an apartment building were apprehended by Turkish intelligence, while two handguns and two silencers, numerous documents and digital materials were seized during the search. According to reports, the investigation of the suspects at the police station continues.
5 Iranians with pistols and silencers: Turkish documentation of the arrest of the cell that intended to harm Israelis@BarShaffer pic.twitter.com/cwlpW3ONVi
– News here (@kann_news) June 23, 2022
The publication of the documentation comes hours after Turkey reported that Turkish security and intelligence forces thwarted a plan last week to kidnap a former Israeli ambassador and his wife and harm other Israelis. Troops reportedly raided the hotel room of members of an Iranian squad in the city on Thursday. During the raid, ten Iranians and Turks were arrested with weapons in their possession.