Cyprus stays mum over thwarted attack on Israeli targets (Updated)

Seven people were arrested in what has been described as a foiled terrorist plot on Israeli targets in Limassol, while one has escaped abroad, after having entered from the north, reports said on Monday.

Commenting to the Cyprus Mail on the matter, police said that they could not confirm the arrest of the individuals, as “it was a matter of national security”.

Likewise, Cyprus government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said: “We cannot comment on issues regarding national security.”

But, according to Israeli news sources, an international arrest warrant has been issued for one individual involved, while another seven have been arrested.

The individuals, which Israel says are part of the Iran’s intelligence services and appear to be linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, are believed to have arrived in Cyprus via Russia and the north.

News Channel 12 in Israel reported that the group targeted a Jewish real estate businessman, a Jewish cultural site and hotels that Israelis tend to visit.

On Sunday, Mossad, the Israeli spy agency said that it had assisted Cyprus with thwarting the plot.

In March, Greek police disrupted what they called a foreign terrorist network operating within the country and arrested two foreign nationals.

According to both Mossad and AFP, the group were plotting to attack Israelis in Greece.

“This is another example of Iran trying to use terror against Israeli and Jewish targets overseas,” said the Mossad at the time.

On Sunday, an unnamed Cypriot official said that with this development, the country is sending a message of zero tolerance for such acts, highlighting that the island is not the ‘weak link’ due to the ‘security hole’ created by the occupied areas.

The country will not be involved in regional conflicts, the official said, noting that although it expresses dissatisfaction with the Iranian stance, Nicosia intends to keep all channels of communication and understanding open with Tehran.

Commenting in a letter on Monday, the Iranian embassy said that it strongly denies “baseless accusations and misleading reporting targeted at the Islamic Republic of Iran”.

“The I.R. Iran considers such claims as part of a recurring Zionist conspiracy and futile attempts to undermine the friendly relations between the Republic of Cyprus and the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the statement said.

The recent attack attempt has been linked with previous attempts. This includes the arrest of an Azeri man suspected of working for Iran to target Israeli nationals two years ago in Cyprus, but also other attempts in Greece and Turkey.

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the thwarting of what he said was an Iranian attack against Israeli targets in Cyprus.

A statement from Netanyahu’s office did not give any more details, but Israeli news website Ynet, without disclosing its sources, said an attack had been planned against Israelis staying in the city of Limassol.

“Israel welcomes the foiling of the Iranian terrorist attack in the territory of Cyprus against Israeli targets,” Netanyahu’s office said.

“Israel operates everywhere in a wide variety of methods in order to protect Jews and Israelis and will continue to act to sever Iranian terrorism wherever it raises its head, including on Iranian soil,” the statement said.