Israel praises ‘thwarting of Iranian attack’ in Cyprus
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed the news that security forces on Cyprus had thwarted an apparent Iranian terrorist attack on Israeli targets on the island.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks on Memorial Day
Many Israelis holiday on the island, the third largest in the Mediterranean.
“The state of Israel is using a wide range of methods everywhere in order to defend Jews and Israelis and will continue to act in order to uproot Iranian terrorism wherever it rears its head,” Netanyahu’s office said.
Asked about the Israeli statement, Cyprus government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said: “We cannot comment on issues regarding national security.”
Cypriot newspaper Phileleftheros earlier reported that the country’s security forces had thwarted the attack on the basis of information from Israel and the United States.
It cited government sources and said that explosives had been seized.
According to the report, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IGRC) were behind the plans.
Israeli news portal Ynet reported that the target was Israelis in the coastal city of Limassol.
In October 2021, Cypriot police broke up a terrorist ring reported to be in contact with Iran.
Six men from Azerbaijan and Pakistan were arrested.
AAP with Reuters
