This is the second operation of this kind on which Turkey communicates in less than a month. Seven Iranians are now believed to be incarcerated in Turkey for the same reasons.
Last month, Israel called all its nationals to leave Turkey immediately, a popular holiday destination for Israelis. The country cited a “ real and immediate danger of Iranian attacks. A former Israeli diplomat was said to have been targeted and evacuated, like other nationals, by the Israeli services. Since then, two operations by Turkish forces have targeted Islamic Republic cells.
The first was announced while Yair Lapid, then Israeli foreign minister, was visiting the country on June 23. According to the Turkish daily MilliyetIranian intelligence agents and members of the Revolutionary Guards had been arrested in raids targeting three houses and a hotel in Istanbul.
This time, few details about the operation have leaked out. The Turkish authorities only indicated that three Iranian nationals were arrested last week and imprisoned on Thursday July 21.
Turkey and Israel have had strained relations for several years. But in recent months, the countries have moved to forge closer ties. During his visit to Ankara last June, Yair Lapid, who has since become Prime Minister, had hailed a “ diplomatic and security cooperation “which had made it possible to” saving the lives of Israeli citizens “. And in the wake of the first operation, Israel had lowered the threat level aimed at its nationals in Turkey.