Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has claimed that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attempted to carry out a terror attack targeting Israeli citizens in Cyprus.
“Thanks to the activity of the Cypriot security authorities, in cooperation with Israeli security services, the terror attack was thwarted,” Sa'ar tweeted.
He condemned what he called the “Iranian criminal regime” for “deliberately targeting Israeli civilians both in Israel and abroad.” He added, “Israel will continue to act to eliminate the existential threat posed by the Iranian terror regime.”
According to Hebrew-language outlet Ynet News, police in Cyprus have arrested a man suspected of planning an “imminent attack” and spying on British military bases.
Cypriot media, as cited by Ynet, reported that the suspect is a British national of Azerbaijani origin with alleged ties to the IRGC.
A local report indicated that “reliable information” about the suspect was received on Friday from the intelligence service of a foreign country. According to Ynet, the man arrived in Cyprus in April and had been gathering intelligence on foreign military forces stationed on the island.
The suspect appeared before a judge on Saturday, and his detention was extended by eight days, according to local reports.
Last week, Ynet reported that the intelligence community—though it did not specify which country—had growing concerns that Iran might launch missiles at British bases in Cyprus. The report followed accusations from Tehran that the United Kingdom was aiding Israel in intelligence gathering and in intercepting Iranian projectiles.
Meanwhile, Cypriot police have in recent days stepped up security around Jewish-linked sites, including synagogues and hotels where Israeli tourists are staying.
On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces facilitated the entry to an Israeli port of a passenger ship from Cyprus with 1,500 Israelis on board, as part of the Ministry of Transport’s “Operation Safe Return.”
The ship, which embarked from the Port of Limassol, docked at Ashdod Port at 4:30 AM, the military said.
Tens of thousands of Israelis have been stranded abroad since Israel’s war with Iran commenced on June 13, prompting the closure of the Tel Aviv’s main international airport.
