Israel's National Security Council (NSC) revealed Tuesday that Iranian operatives recently attempted to kidnap an Israeli businessman by trying to lure him to Dubai, marking an escalation in Iran's efforts to target Israeli citizens abroad.
According to the NSC, the Iranian agents posed as representatives of "Al Arabiya Farsi," the Persian-language division of the Saudi news network, and contacted the businessman through Telegram. The operatives attempted to arrange a meeting in Dubai under the pretext of conducting an interview about the Iranian regime.
The plot was foiled when the businessman, whose identity remains undisclosed for security reasons, grew suspicious of the communication and reported it to Israeli security authorities. An investigation revealed that the approach matched known patterns of Iranian intelligence operations. The agents had also attempted to compromise the target's mobile phone by sending malicious files and links.
"This incident represents a continuation of the Iranian terror threat against Israelis both at home and worldwide," the NSC stated in its warning to the public. The agency emphasized that this case demonstrates Iran's increasing efforts to target Israeli citizens by orchestrating meetings in various countries.
The NSC has issued several security recommendations for Israeli citizens:
- Maintain strict privacy settings on social media platforms
- Avoid sharing personal information such as phone numbers, real-time location, and future travel plans
- Verify the identity of unknown contacts through multiple communication channels
- Exercise caution when receiving unsolicited files or links
- Be particularly wary of unexpected business or media opportunities abroad
For Israelis traveling abroad, the NSC advises immediately contacting local security services if they suspect they're being targeted, followed by reporting to the NSC's 24/7 travel warning center at +972-2-6667444.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel, with Iranian agents increasingly attempting to target Israeli civilians and business figures abroad. The UAE, despite normalizing relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords, has previously been identified as a location where Iranian operatives have attempted to carry out operations against Israeli citizens.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has established a dedicated hotline (+972-2-5303155) for reporting suspicious approaches and consultation on security matters related to crime and antisemitism while abroad.
Kikar HaShabbat contributed to this article.
0 Comments