Israel-Iran-Turkey
Israel asks its nationals to leave Turkey over possible Iran attack
Jerusalem/Ankara: Amid the latest surge in tensions between bitter rivals Israel and Iran, Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Monday asked citizens in Turkey to leave "as soon as possible" over threats that an Iranian network operating in the country is actively planning attacks on Israelis in Istanbul.
Yair Lapid said Israelis in Turkey faced "a real and immediate danger" from Iranian agents, citing "several Iranian attempts at carrying out terror attacks against Israelis on holiday in Istanbul", but he made no mention of any alleged Israeli operations against Iranian targets.
"If you are already in Istanbul, return to Israel as soon as possible. If you have planned a flight to Istanbul -- cancel. No vacation is worth your life," Lapid said in a public warning.
Foreign Minister urged Israelis "Do not fly to Turkey at all," unless such travel is "essential".
Meanwhile, hours after the Israeli Foreign Minister's statement, the country's National Security Council raised its travel warning for Istanbul to the highest level.
"Given the continuing nature of the threat and in light of the increased Iranian intentions to attack Israelis in Turkey, especially Istanbul, the National Security Council has raised the travel warning for Istanbul to the highest level, Level 4," according to the NSC statement.
The security council noted that other parts of Turkey remained at the intermediate threat Level 3.
It stressed that there was no prohibition on using the Istanbul airport as a connecting hub for flights."provided that one does not leave the airport".
Iran and Israel have been engaged in a years-long cold and proxy war.
The conflict involves threats and hostility by Iran's leaders against Israel, and their declared objective to dissolve the Jewish state, but tensions have ratcheted up following a string of high-profile incidents Tehran has blamed on Israel.
Meanwhile, The Jerusalem Post has claimed in its latest news report that Iranian attempts to attack Israeli targets last month in Turkey had been foiled by Israeli and Turkish security agencies.
According to the report, security officials from Israel updated their Turkish counterparts on the intent to carry out an attack against Israelis on Turkish lands and asked for their assistance to foil the attacks.
The Isareli media outlet reported those attacks were planned by an Iranian network operating in Turkey.
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