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In a statement today, the Israeli Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid, called on all Israelis who are either planning to travel to Turkey or to travel on transit flights to or from Istanbul International Airport to urgently cancel their plans. He also called on Israeli citizens currently in Turkey to leave immediately.
Lapid's dramatic appeal comes following information broadcast across the Israeli media this morning that the Israeli intelligence services are in close cooperation with their Turkish counterparts, have managed to counter an attempted major terrorist act that had already begun to be carried out inside Turkish territory by a network of Iranian agents at a tourist resort hosting unsuspecting Israeli tourists. Similar information was reported yesterday, according to which a terrorist attack against 'official Israeli targets' in Turkey, with alleged Iranian involvement, was foiled. For both incidents, Israeli media did not report further details.
"In recent weeks, state authorities have been making enormous efforts to save Israeli lives. Many of those walking carelessly among us are unaware that they have been rescued from danger to their lives. The terrorists' efforts are aimed at Israeli tourists. They are targeting Israeli citizens in order to either kidnap or murder them. If you have booked a ticket to travel to Istanbul, cancel it. No tourist trip is more important than your life and the lives of your loved ones. Obey the instructions issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which we are constantly updating after continuous security assessments," the Israeli Foreign Minister said. Yair Lapid publicly thanked the Turkish government "for its efforts to save the lives of Israeli citizens in the country" and addressed Iran, adding: "Anyone who harms Israelis will not go unpunished. Israel will find him and punish him wherever he is."
On the Iranian side, two Revolutionary Guards officers who died in car accidents were described as "martyrs" by pro-government media, with no further details released.
The Israeli National Security Staff has already issued a strict recommendation since the end of May for its citizens not to visit Turkey for any reason and not to use Istanbul International Airport as a transfer station, because there is "extremely specific information about planning terrorist acts against Israeli tourists within Turkish territory, where an extensive circuit of Iranian agents operates."
As reported by Israeli media, a large portion of travelers defied the recommendation and Turkish resorts host a significant number of tourists from Israel, while the number of Turkish Airlines flights between Tel Aviv
Source: KYPE
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