Analysis: 6 Alleged Hizbullah Plots Likely behind Israel-Hizbullah Tension
The series of alleged Hizbullah plots to attack Israeli targets in Turkey were likely behind the tension between the Jewish state and the Shiite party this past summer and fall, Haaretz daily reported Sunday.
"The foiled attempts may explain the numerous warnings Israel has issued since August to Hizbullah to abstain from acts the group might regret," Haaretz said.
The newspaper said that so far, there have been reports of at least six foiled attacks against Israeli targets overseas. The plots, according to Haaretz, were in retaliation for the killing of Hizbullah commander Imad Mughniyeh in a Damascus car bombing in February 2008, which the group blamed on Israel.
Haaretz quoted Turkish media as saying that Hizbullah”s planned attacks were extremely ambitious and organized well in advance, reportedly with the help of Syrian and Iranian intelligence.
It is suspected that Hizbullah operatives planned to attack a series of targets linked to Israel and possibly the Jewish community in Turkey, the newspaper said.
Turkish security forces managed to uncover the plots after receiving information from a Western intelligence service, Haaretz added.