2022 Istanbul terror plot

<h2 id="background">Background</h2>
Main article: <a href="/facts/Hassan_Sayyad_Khodaei/v37EayMP">Hassan Sayyad Khodaei</a>
In May, Israeli and Turkish security agencies foiled an Iranian plot to kidnap Israeli tourists in Turkey.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4">4</a>

<h2 id="first-travel-advisory">First Travel Advisory</h2>
On 30 May, Israel issued a <a href="/facts/Travel_warning/eFwdgqpt">travel warning</a> on non-essential on Turkey due to Iranian threats of revenge following the assassination of Khodaei.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5">5</a>

<h2 id="13-june-incident-and-advisory-upgraded">13 June incident and advisory upgraded</h2>
On 13 June, an Israeli couple at a market were called and told on by Mossad to stay where they were due to an Iranian terror cell waiting for them at their hotel to kidnap them. It was reported that they were transported to <a href="/facts/Istanbul_Airport/l0XJGvgg">Istanbul Airport</a>, where they were put on a flight back to Israel. It was later reported that they were extensively questioned afterwards.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6">6</a> In the aftermath of the rescue operation, Israel told its citizens to evacuate Istanbul and Turkey immediately.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a> They were also told to postpone future trips to Turkey until further notice.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a>

<h2 id="plot-foiled-and-arrests-made">Plot foiled and arrests made</h2>
On 23 June 2022, the <a href="/facts/National_Intelligence_Organization/Ys0R45Gl">National Intelligence Organization</a> of Turkey announced that 10 Iranian and Turkish operatives had been detained in Istanbul's <a href="/facts/Beyo%25C4%259Flu/1gq2m0lF">Beyoğlu</a> area following multiple raids and weapons seizure.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a> Local security forces reported that Iranian agents were still at large and that a former Israeli ambassador and his wife were allegedly targeted.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a> It was later uncovered that the suspects had been arrested on 14 July near <a href="/facts/Taksim_Square/LK7Fkvfr">Taksim Square</a>.

<h2 id="reactions">Reactions</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Israel/dEe3IcaY"></a> <a href="/facts/Foreign_Minister_of_Israel/JoJPDt9d">Foreign Minister of Israel</a> <a href="/facts/Yair_Lapid/1LXDcUFb">Yair Lapid</a> thanked Turkish officials and forces for helping to uncover a conspiracy to harm Israelis.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14">14</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Iran/24yukge8"></a> The <a href="/facts/Ministry_of_Foreign_Affairs_(Iran)/pc4KwFsv">Iranian Foreign Ministry</a> denied Israeli and Turkish claims of a plot, rendering them 'baseless'.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15">15</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16">16</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Turkey/KIYAWAs0"></a> Turkish media reported that Iran had paid the agents.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17">17</a></li></ul>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/2011_alleged_Iran_assassination_plot/cvJt50Ql">2011 alleged Iran assassination plot</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/2012_attacks_on_Israeli_diplomats/srwT1fD5">2012 attacks on Israeli diplomats</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/2012_Cyprus_terrorist_plot/Mjht6GnG">2012 Cyprus terrorist plot</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">Fabian, Emanuel; Berman, Lazar. "Israelis told to leave Istanbul, stay away from Turkey, amid Iran terror threat". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2023-07-09. <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/lapid-calls-on-israelis-in-turkey-to-leave-immediately-amid-iran-attack-threat/" target="_blank">https://www.timesofisrael.com/lapid-calls-on-israelis-in-turkey-to-leave-immediately-amid-iran-attack-threat/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">Bob, Yonah Jeremy; Meitav, Roman (23 June 2022). "Mossad, Turkey foil Iranian plot to kidnap Israelis". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2023-07-09. <a href="https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-710182" target="_blank">https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-710182</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">"Israelis in Istanbul were whisked away as Iranian assassins waited at hotel — report". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2023-07-09. <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israelis-in-istanbul-were-whisked-away-as-iranian-assassins-waited-at-hotel-report/" target="_blank">https://www.timesofisrael.com/israelis-in-istanbul-were-whisked-away-as-iranian-assassins-waited-at-hotel-report/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">"Iranian kidnapping of Israeli tourists said thwarted in Turkey last month". Times of Israel. 12 June 2022. <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-said-to-have-helped-foil-planned-iranian-attack-on-israeli-targets-in-turkey/" target="_blank">https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-said-to-have-helped-foil-planned-iranian-attack-on-israeli-targets-in-turkey/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">Lubell, Maayan (2022-05-30). Chopra, Toby (ed.). "Israel warns against travel to Turkey citing Iran assassination". Reuters. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 2023-07-09. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-warns-against-travel-turkey-citing-iran-assassination-2022-05-30/" target="_blank">https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-warns-against-travel-turkey-citing-iran-assassination-2022-05-30/</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">"Israelis in Istanbul were whisked away as Iranian assassins waited at hotel — report". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2023-07-09. <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israelis-in-istanbul-were-whisked-away-as-iranian-assassins-waited-at-hotel-report/" target="_blank">https://www.timesofisrael.com/israelis-in-istanbul-were-whisked-away-as-iranian-assassins-waited-at-hotel-report/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">"Israeli travel warning for Turkey to remain until Iran terror cell caught – report". 16 June 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022. Israeli, Turkish security forces working to nab Iranian agents still thought to be in country; Ankara said to convey 'blunt' warning to Tehran not to use its territory for attacks <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-travel-warning-for-turkey-to-remain-until-iran-terror-cell-caught-report/" target="_blank">https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-travel-warning-for-turkey-to-remain-until-iran-terror-cell-caught-report/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">Maszczynski, Mateusz (17 June 2022). "Breaking: Israel Urges its Citizens in Istanbul to Lock Themselves in Hotel Rooms Over Fears of Iranian Terror Plot". Paddle your own Kanoo. <a href="https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2022/06/17/breaking-israel-urges-its-citizens-in-istanbul-to-lock-themselves-in-hotel-rooms-over-fears-of-iranian-terror-plot/" target="_blank">https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2022/06/17/breaking-israel-urges-its-citizens-in-istanbul-to-lock-themselves-in-hotel-rooms-over-fears-of-iranian-terror-plot/</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">"Israel Urges All Citizens To Evacuate Istanbul Immediately, Citing Iranian 'Revenge' Plot". Tsionizm. 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2023-07-09. <a href="https://tsionizm.com/news/2022/06/13/israel-urges-all-citizens-to-evacuate-istanbul-immediately-citing-iranian-revenge-plot/" target="_blank">https://tsionizm.com/news/2022/06/13/israel-urges-all-citizens-to-evacuate-istanbul-immediately-citing-iranian-revenge-plot/</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">Uniyal, Vijeta (23 June 2022). "Iranian Terror Cell Plotting to Kill Israelis Nabbed in Turkey". Legal Insurrection. Retrieved 4 August 2022. Death squad comprising of "eight suspects, including Iranian nationals, who were plotting attacks on Israeli citizens in Turkey." <a href="https://legalinsurrection.com/2022/06/iranian-terror-cell-plotting-to-kill-israelis-nabbed-in-turkey/" target="_blank">https://legalinsurrection.com/2022/06/iranian-terror-cell-plotting-to-kill-israelis-nabbed-in-turkey/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">"Turkey said to nab Iranian cell planning attacks on Israelis". Times of Israel. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022. Agents, including some Iranian nationals, reportedly arrested last week in raid in Beyoglu district of Istanbul; ex-diplomat and his wife said targeted in plot <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/members-of-iranian-cell-planning-attacks-on-israelis-arrested-turkish-media/" target="_blank">https://www.timesofisrael.com/members-of-iranian-cell-planning-attacks-on-israelis-arrested-turkish-media/</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">"Official says Mossad, local intel foiled 3 Iran plots to attack Israelis in Istanbul". Times of Israel. 24 July 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022. Israeli security source briefing reporters notes situation stabilizing in Turkey but predicts travel warning will remain in place for now as Iranian agents remain at large <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/official-says-mossad-foiled-3-iranian-plots-to-attack-israelis-in-turkey/" target="_blank">https://www.timesofisrael.com/official-says-mossad-foiled-3-iranian-plots-to-attack-israelis-in-turkey/</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:13">Bob, Yonah Jeremy; Meitav, Roman (23 June 2022). "Mossad, Turkey foil Iranian plot to kidnap Israelis". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2023-07-09. <a href="https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-710182" target="_blank">https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-710182</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:14">"Turkey foils alleged Iran plot to kill Israelis in Istanbul". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 4 August 2022. Turkish authorities arrested Iranians suspected of planning attacks on Israeli tourists and businesspeople with pistols and silencers. <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/6/23/turkey-foiled-iranian-plot-to-kill-israelis-in-istanbul-fm" target="_blank">https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/6/23/turkey-foiled-iranian-plot-to-kill-israelis-in-istanbul-fm</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:15">Lazaroff, Tovah (24 June 2022). "Iran slams 'ridiculous Zionist accusation' of terror cell in Turkey". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2023-07-09. <a href="https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-710334" target="_blank">https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-710334</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:16">Heinrich, Mark, ed. (24 June 2022). "Iran: Israeli accusation of Iranian plot to harm Israelis in Istanbul 'ridiculous'". Reuters. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-israeli-accusation-iranian-plot-harm-israelis-istanbul-ridiculous-2022-06-24/" target="_blank">https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-israeli-accusation-iranian-plot-harm-israelis-istanbul-ridiculous-2022-06-24/</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:17">"Turkish media: Iran paid $35,000 to agents tasked with killing Israelis in Istanbul". Times of Israel. <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/turkish-media-iran-paid-35000-to-agents-tasked-with-killing-israelis-in-istanbul/" target="_blank">https://www.timesofisrael.com/turkish-media-iran-paid-35000-to-agents-tasked-with-killing-israelis-in-istanbul/</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

2022 Istanbul terror plot open-in-new

2022 Istanbul terror plot