Mossad reveals: The Iranian attempted attack in Cyprus against Israeli targets was thwarted by the organization on Iranian soil. According to the organization's announcement, he managed to get his hands on the head of the assassin squad operating on behalf of the Revolutionary Guards and interrogate him, all in the territory of the Islamic Republic. The exposure came against the backdrop of a series of arrests carried out last week in Cyprus, in which Iranian activity was exposed. Last week, Prime Minister Netanyahu admitted that Israel was working to thwart terrorism on Iranian soil as well.
According to the Mossad's announcement, the operation was the result of cooperation with the Cypriot intelligence organization and other foreign intelligence agencies. Senior Mossad official: "We will reach every element that promotes terrorism against Jews and Israelis all over the world, including on Iranian soil"
Special documentation of the interrogation of the assassin by the Mossad:
Special documentation: Head of IRGC assassin squad planning terrorist attack in Cyprus
Last week foreign media reported that an attack targeting Israeli targets in Cyprus had been thwarted by Israeli, Cypriot and other intelligence agencies. The report at the time was exceptionally confirmed by the Prime Minister's Office. Now the Mossad is revealing more details about behind the scenes of thwarting the attack - and rare documentation of its activity on Iranian soil.
The footage shows the head of the assassin squad sent from Iran to Cyprus, Yousef Shahbazi Abbasalilou, confessing in detail to the details of the attempted attack. A video from the interrogation shows Abbas describing how he received detailed instructions and weapons from senior IRGC officials and the Iranian effort to carry out the attack – the assassination of an Israeli businessman on Cyprus – to carry out the attack. Thanks to his interrogation, the cell was exposed, dismantled by security in Cyprus and the attack was prevented.
The chain of command that led the attack,
Last week, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement that "the State of Israel is using a wide variety of methods everywhere to protect Jews and Israelis and will continue to act to stamp out Iranian terrorism wherever it raises its head, including on Iranian soil."
The Iranian Terrorist Apparatus
During his interrogation, the assassin gave many details about the attempted attack, the factors behind him in the IRGC intelligence organization, the work method of his handlers, the weapons supplied to him, and the media.
Yusef Shahbazi Abbas'alilu - The Assassin,
According to ISIS's announcement, the body behind the planning of the attacks is the Foreign Intelligence Directorate of the Revolutionary Guards' Intelligence Organization, known as Division 800. The assassin's direct handler is a senior member of the Iranian organization named Hassan Shushtari-Zadeh. Zadeh is in charge of "special operations," a code name for terrorist attacks abroad. Above Zadeh is a senior operative named Jawad Sarai, and the division to which the two are subordinate is headed by Reza Sarraj.
correspondence between the assassin and his handler,
In his confession, the assassin details how, during his stay in Cyprus, he made contact with Iranian, Pakistani and local collaborators, who assisted him, among other things, in obtaining weapons, means of communication, and transporting him to the area where the target lived. Abbas'alilo planned to follow the target as he left his home and eliminate him in a secluded place at night, on the orders of his handler, he several times went to the home of the target of the attack, photographed and collected intelligence on the security measures in the house.
The assassin's plane ticket from Turkey to Iran,
Finally, when the Cypriot security organizations tracked him down, his handler, Shushtari Zadeh, ordered him to dispose of the weapon. The assassin describes how he hid the gun in a remote spot in Limassol, in a pit, wrapped in cloth and fled to Iran.
Head of Division 800, Reza Sarraj,
Chain of attempted attacks
According to the Mossad's announcement, during the past two years attempts to attack Israeli and Jewish civilians in Cyprus (September '21), Turkey (June '22), Georgia (November '22) and Greece (February '23) were thwarted, alongside other attacks whose prevention was not made public and remained secret. In addition, the statement said that there had been Iranian attempts to harm Americans, Europeans, and opponents of the Iranian regime in the United States and Europe. Following these Iranian failures, about a year ago, Hossein Taeb, head of the IRGC's intelligence organization, was ousted and replaced by Mohammad Kazemi.
The Mossad added that the recent incident in Cyprus is "an example of the power of the Mossad's cooperation with international intelligence organizations that succeed in thwarting Iranian terrorism. The attack was thwarted thanks to the close cooperation with the Cypriot intelligence service and determined actions it carried out on the ground. The State of Israel will continue to act everywhere to protect Jews and Israelis in order to stamp out Iranian terrorism wherever it raises its head, including on Iranian soil, the world's main disseminator of terrorism."
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