Nicosia, Cyprus – A Cyprus police investigation supports claims by the Mossad spy agency that an Iranian-backed hit squad planned to kill Israelis and other Jews in the eastern Mediterranean island nation, an official said on Friday.
The intelligence official told The Associated Press that Cyprus police had tracked down an Iranian national named Youssef Shahbazi Abbassililo following information from “friendly intelligence services”.
Subsequent investigation into his activities indicated that there was a conspiracy to commit such killings, with at least one person on the hit list, the official said on condition of anonymity to discuss the investigation.
According to the official, Abbassilo initially attempted to set up a base and recruit others in the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north of the ethnically divided island, where Cyprus’ internationally recognized authorities have no access.
Cyprus was divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by supporters of union with Greece. No country recognizes the Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence except Turkey, which maintains 35,000 troops in the northern third of the island.
According to the intelligence official, the fact that the isolated North is not part of the international legal system is a matter of concern for domestic and foreign security services.
Alleged Iranian terrorist operative Yusuf Shahbazi Abbassililo in a photo released by the Mossad spy agency on June 29, 2023. (courtesy)
Cypriot authorities were on the trail of Abbassililo in the southern part of the island when it entered the north through a crossing point with a 180-kilometre (120 mi) UN-controlled buffer zone. The Turkish Cypriot authorities then identified him as a potential security risk and deported him to Iran.
The intelligence official’s comments marked the first time Cypriot officials have spoken about the matter.
Mossad said last month that its agents inside Iran had captured Abbasillo, who reportedly gave a detailed “confession” to investigators. The released footage showed Abbassilo saying on camera that he had received orders from Iran’s powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Abbassillo also stated that he had observed the target and taken photographs of the target’s home in Cyprus before fleeing the island. It is not clear whether the man spoke under duress.
Mossad said that due to information received from Abbassillo, Cypriot security forces destroyed the rest of the terrorist cell. The conspirators included Iranians, Pakistanis and locals.
Last month, an unconfirmed report by Israel’s Channel 12 news claimed that the targets of the Cyprus plot included an Israeli real estate tycoon and a Chabad house as well as hotels and entertainment venues frequented by Israeli tourists.
An illustration of the Chabad center in the port city of Larnaca, Cyprus, in September 2005. (Marina Passos/AFP)
Israel views Iran as its worst enemy, citing the Iranian government’s calls for Israel’s destruction and support for hostile terrorist groups. It also accuses Iran of trying to develop a nuclear bomb – a claim Iran denies.
Recent years have seen several failed Iranian attempts to kill Israelis in Cyprus, Turkey, Georgia and Greece. It has been told by the Times of Israel that other attacks have been foiled without the matter reaching the media.
Israel’s National Security Council warned earlier this year that Cyprus and Greece were countries where Iran could target Jews and Israelis. In addition to relatively large expatriate communities, these countries are popular destinations for Israeli tourists.
In an image published by the military on June 2, 2022, Israeli soldiers conduct a major exercise in Cyprus. (Israel Defense Forces)
An Azeri man holding a Russian passport is on trial in Cyprus, a close ally of Israel, on suspicion that he planned to carry out contract killings of Israelis living in Cyprus.
The intelligence official said the Azeri man used the same modus operandi as Abbassilo.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
