Greece is on high alert, as foreign intelligence services sound the alarm over potential Iranian-backed attacks targeting Israeli interests on Greek soil. The chilling warnings, confirmed by an official at the Citizen Protection Ministry, have sent ripples of concern throughout the nation, prompting urgent security measures.
Greek media outlet Kathimerini reports that Greece’s National Intelligence Service (EYP) and other counter-terrorism bodies were alerted by foreign security agencies to a looming threat: Iran or its proxies may be plotting to strike Israeli sites in Greece.
This unsettling intelligence arrives in the wake of the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran—a flashpoint event that has further inflamed an already volatile situation. Although Israel has not claimed responsibility for Haniyeh’s death, Tehran has ominously promised retribution against the Jewish state.
Adding to the tension, Iran’s mission to the United Nations has declared that Hezbollah is poised to target Israeli civilians, though it insists these attacks will be limited to Israeli territory. Yet, the specter of Iranian-backed violence has increasingly haunted Jewish and Israeli communities worldwide, casting a shadow over places far removed from the immediate conflict zone.
The threat is not unprecedented. In December 2023, the world witnessed Iran’s audacious attempt to carry out an attack in Cyprus. Two Iranians, masquerading as political refugees, were arrested for allegedly gathering intelligence to orchestrate assaults on global Jewish communities—a grim reminder of the persistent danger faced by these communities following the October 7 events that shook the region.
Athens, too, has felt the tremors of potential terror. Between 2023 and 2024, the city was the stage for two foiled attacks on Israeli interests. In March, a dramatic operation involving Mossad and the EYP thwarted a plot by two Pakistani nationals to attack a synagogue in Athens, a conspiracy reportedly orchestrated by Iran. Another alarming incident involved attempts to set fire to an Israeli hotel and synagogue, further stoking fears of escalating violence.
"The level of vigilance has increased," an official from the Citizen Protection Ministry told Kathimerini, echoing the unease felt across the nation.
The grim warnings from foreign intelligence have spurred Greek authorities into action, intensifying security measures and fostering a climate of heightened alertness.
* JPost contributed to this article.
