Israel’s National Security Council (NSC) on Tuesday issued a warning about Iranian efforts to lure Israeli citizens abroad to harm or kidnap them.
The NSC revealed that Iranian operatives recently attempted to target an Israeli businessman by contacting him through Telegram, pretending to be from a Saudi news outlet. They tried to lure him to Dubai to harm him and sent him malicious links and files to gain access to his phone. The businessman reported the suspicious activity, exposing the plot.
“The NSC emphasizes that this is another manifestation of the ongoing Iranian terror threat against Israelis both domestically and abroad,” according to the statement.
The NSC is urging the Israeli public to be cautious of unknown contacts online, avoid sharing personal details and verify identities through secure communication methods. It also encourages the reporting of suspicious activities to security services and the NSC’s 24/7 travel warning center.
Around two months ago, Rabbi Zvi Kogan, 28, the Chabad emissary to the UAE, was murdered by three terrorists from Uzbekistan. The Israeli-Moldovan was kidnapped and killed, and his body was found near the Oman border. Some reports suggest the attackers intended to kidnap him to a neighboring country.
