Israeli Intelligence Foils Iranian Plot to Assassinate Senior Officials Using Foreign Operatives

An extraordinary international intelligence operation led by Israel's Mossad and Shin Bet, in cooperation with global intelligence agencies, has thwarted an Iranian Ministry of Intelligence attempt to infiltrate a foreign operational cell into Israel to assassinate senior Israeli figures. The complex operation, based on a "proxy by proxy" method involving criminal networks under Tehran's protection, was fully uncovered and dismantled. The main recruiter, known as "Philip," who operated from France, was expelled, and senior Iranian intelligence officers behind the plot were publicly identified with photos released.

The Iranian regime has escalated its global terror campaign over the past two years, targeting Israeli and Jewish interests worldwide, with recent efforts focused on carrying out attacks inside Israel itself. The "proxy by proxy" tactic involves multiple layers of intermediaries to shield Tehran from direct involvement and international repercussions. Iranian intelligence recruits international criminal infrastructures that, in turn, recruit operatives with access to Israel to conduct intelligence gathering and ultimately execute assassinations.

The investigation traced the operational chain from Europe to Tehran, revealing that "Philip" traveled to Iran multiple times to receive instructions and payments. He was controlled by two Iranian-based criminal figures, Babak Mahu-Zadeh Haji Jafan ("Babak") and Mahmat Nadim Yaei ("Nadim"), both linked to notorious drug lord Naji Sharifi Zindashti, who acts as an execution arm for Iranian intelligence terror activities. These figures remain active terror facilitators and prime targets for global intelligence.

Above the criminal layer, the Mossad and Shin Bet identified senior Iranian intelligence officers directing and funding the operation, including Asadollah Behzadi Ochsari, who was killed during Israel's "Operation Roar of the Lion." Despite Tehran's attempts to deny direct involvement, the proxy method repeatedly exposes operational failures leading to the exposure and disruption of Iranian terror infrastructure.

This extensive intelligence cooperation has prevented dozens of terror plots in the last two years, saving many lives and enabling strong legal and investigative actions against terror operatives. Israeli security agencies emphasize that their reach will extend to anyone threatening Israeli and Jewish interests domestically and globally.