Israeli secret service claims it has captured a plot leader in Iran and foiled an attack

JERUSALEM, Israel (Reuters) – Israel announced on Thursday that its Mossad Intelligence Service had conducted an operation in Iran in order to capture and stop the leader of a suspected Iranian plot to attack Israelis in Cyprus.

The Mossad released a statement saying that “in a unique operation conducted on Iranian soil, Mossad caught the head of the group, who during an investigation gave a detailed confess which led to the exposure of and the dismantlement the terrorist cell responsible for the Cyprus attack.”

The Iranian officials are not available to comment immediately.

Mossad has not stated when the arrest took place, the location of the suspect or when the attack on Cyprus would have taken place. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said on Sunday that an attack was foiled. He did not provide any details. Cyprus declined to comment at the time.

The Israeli agency named the suspect as Yousef Abbasalilu, and stated that he had “received detailed instruction and weapons from senior officials in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards”, to carry out this attack.

Netanyahu’s office overseeing the Mossad released a video that appeared to show Abbasalilu recalling discussions he had with Revolutionary Guard members.

Netanyahu, speaking at the Hatzerim Airbase, in southern Israel, on Thursday, said that Israel “worked without respite”, to stop Iran and its proxy attacks against Israel, even “in neighbouring nations who are not in conflict” with Israel.

Iran and Israel have been enemies for a long time. Israel accuses Iran that it is behind militant attacks on Israel, while Iran claims Israel has killed a number Iranian officials.

Officials in the United States, Europe and Israel fear that Iran could seek nuclear weapons. Tehran denies such ambitions.

Netanyahu stated that Israel would not be bound by any deal reached between the United States, Iran and Tehran. “We will continue to maintain our right, and our obligation, to defend ourselves with our own forces against any threat, anywhere in the Middle East.”

Reporting by Henriettechacar; Editing and editing by Mark Heinrich, Cynthia Osterman