By DAYO ADESULU
Israel’s foreign intelligence agency, Mossad, has announced that it thwarted what it described as an Iranian intelligence operation aimed at infiltrating Israel and carrying out attacks against senior Israeli officials through a network of international criminal operatives.
According to a statement released by Mossad on Thursday, the alleged operation was directed by Iran’s Intelligence Ministry and relied on criminal organizations to recruit individuals capable of entering Israel. These recruits were reportedly tasked with gathering intelligence on potential targets before executing attacks.
How the Alleged Operation Was Structured
Mossad said the operation involved two alleged criminal figures based in Iran under the protection of the Iranian Intelligence Ministry.
The agency identified them as Baba Mahuzadeh Haji Jafan, also known as “Babak,” and Mehmet Nadim Ya’it, also known as “Nadim.”
According to the Israeli agency, the pair allegedly recruited Turut Ozkor, a France-based criminal known by the nickname “Philip.”
Mossad claimed Philip was assigned the responsibility of building a network of foreign nationals who could travel into Israel to conduct surveillance and later carry out attacks against high-ranking Israeli figures.
The intelligence agency further alleged that Philip travelled to Iran on several occasions, where he met his handlers and received payments for his activities.
Israeli Intelligence Names Alleged Iranian Handlers
In its statement, Mossad identified four officials it said were involved in directing the operation on behalf of Iran’s Intelligence Ministry:
- Asadollah Behzad Oskhari
- Vahid Matzoumi
- Mohammad-Hossein Zoghi
- Hamid Qasemi
The agency also claimed that Oskhari was killed during Israel’s 12-day military campaign against Iran in 2025 and described him as a key figure in previous plots targeting Israeli and Jewish interests around the world.
International Cooperation Helped Disrupt the Network
Mossad said the operation was uncovered through close cooperation with Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic security agency, as well as several foreign intelligence services.
According to the agency, French authorities expelled Philip, while Babak and Nadim are believed to remain in Iran.
Mossad argued that Iran’s alleged use of criminal intermediaries was intended to conceal Tehran’s direct involvement but claimed the approach repeatedly exposed the identities of those directing the operations.
“Despite the attempt to avoid an Iranian fingerprint, the proxy method repeatedly demonstrates the carelessness of the operatives on the ground, leading to the exposure of their handlers in Iran,” the agency said.
Iran Yet to Respond
Iranian authorities had not publicly responded to Mossad’s allegations as of the time of filing this report.
The Israeli intelligence agency further claimed that numerous Iranian attempts to organize attacks inside Israel over the past two years had been prevented.
The allegations come amid continued tensions between Israel and Iran following months of regional security confrontations and intelligence operations.
Why This Matters
The latest claims underscore the deepening intelligence confrontation between Israel and Iran, with both countries accusing each other of conducting covert operations beyond their borders. If confirmed, the alleged plot highlights the increasing use of transnational criminal networks in modern espionage and security operations, further raising concerns about regional stability and international counterterrorism cooperation.
Hashtags: #Israel #Iran #Mossad #MiddleEast #Security #Intelligence #CounterTerrorism #TheCheerNews
