Azerbaijan's security services announced today (Tuesday) that they arrested two suspects in connection with an alleged Iranian-backed assassination plot targeting a senior figure in the country's Jewish community.
According to Azerbaijani authorities, suspect Agil Aslanov traveled abroad where he met with foreign security officials who offered him $200,000 to assassinate a prominent member of Azerbaijan's Jewish community. After returning to Baku, Aslanov reportedly recruited Georgian citizen Jeyhun Ismayilov, and the pair began surveillance of their intended target before being arrested.
While officials did not explicitly name Iran as the foreign state behind the plot, sources within Azerbaijan's Jewish community indicated the target was a leader involved in strengthening Israel-Azerbaijan relations who has been featured in Israeli media. The exact identity of the target was not disclosed.
The arrests represent the latest in a series of alleged Iranian attempts to target Jewish and Israeli interests in Azerbaijan. Community sources say Iran's Revolutionary Guards have been working to establish networks for potential attacks in the country, with Jewish and Israeli institutions considered priority targets.
In response to these ongoing threats, Azerbaijani authorities have increased security measures around Jewish and Israeli facilities throughout the country. Azerbaijan, a secular Muslim-majority nation bordering Iran, has maintained strong ties with Israel and has a centuries-old Jewish community.
The security services did not provide additional details about the plot or the foreign country involved, citing the ongoing investigation. However, they confirmed both suspects were in custody and faced serious charges related to the assassination attempt.
The Jewish community in Azerbaijan has expressed gratitude to local law enforcement for preventing the attack while emphasizing the need for continued vigilance against such threats.
Kikar HaShabbat contributed to this article.
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