Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz announced today, Monday, the "foiling of an aggressive operation launched by Iran against Israeli targets in Cyprus," emphasizing that "we will continue to work to protect our citizens and our security everywhere." Gantz wrote in a tweet: "Another aggressive operation launched by Iran against Israeli targets in Cyprus has been thwarted. Iran continues to pose a global and regional challenge and also a challenge to Israel... We will continue to work to protect our citizens and the security of the State of Israel everywhere and against any threat."
A spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett accused Iran on Monday of attempting to attack Israelis living in Cyprus. The spokesperson, Matan Sidi, denied media reports about thwarting a criminally motivated assassination attempt on an Israeli businessman on the island, stating in a statement, "This was a terrorist incident orchestrated by Iran against Israeli businessmen." The spokesperson clarified in remarks published by the Prime Minister's Twitter account, "Contrary to some publications that emerged yesterday regarding the incident in Cyprus, I clarify on behalf of the security agencies that this is a terrorist operation directed by Iran, targeting Israeli businessmen residing in Cyprus."
He added, "This is not a criminal incident, and Israeli businessman Teddy Sagi was not the target." Israeli media revealed that Cyprus apprehended an Azerbaijani citizen known to be a hired killer with links to Iran last Monday, who was found with a gun and silencer and intended to kill Israeli businessman Teddy Sagi on board his private jet alongside other Israeli businessmen.
