Israel's National Security Council issued an urgent warning to the Israeli public today (Tuesday), highlighting Iran's escalating efforts to target Israeli civilians abroad through sophisticated luring operations in various countries. A recent case involved Iranian terror operatives attempting to orchestrate an operation to draw an Israeli businessman to the United Arab Emirates with harmful intent.
Intelligence sources within the NSC discovered that Iranian operatives established contact with the Israeli businessman via Telegram, sophisticatedly impersonating the Persian division of the Saudi media outlet Al Arabiya. They maintained ongoing communication to arrange a meeting with the Israeli citizen in Dubai. The investigation also revealed that these operatives transmitted malicious links and files designed to gain unauthorized access to the target's mobile device.
The plot was thwarted due to the astute awareness of the Israeli businessman, who alerted the NSC to the suspicious interactions. Subsequent investigation confirmed that the communication patterns and the pretext of an "interview" about the Iranian regime bore the hallmarks of Iranian terror operatives, revealing their true intention to lure the Israeli to Dubai for harmful purposes.
The NSC emphasizes that this incident represents the latest example of Iran's persistent terror threat against Israelis both domestically and internationally.
This case serves as a crucial reminder to the Israeli public about the inherent dangers of engaging with unidentified parties making unusual online approaches, particularly when such communication involves requests for personal information, travel details, or the transmission of files/links to personal devices and email accounts.
To mitigate these risks, the NSC strongly advises the Israeli public to maintain strict privacy settings on social media platforms and refrain from sharing sensitive information such as phone numbers, real-time locations, and future travel plans. Such information can be exploited by terror operatives to gather critical intelligence about potential targets and craft more convincing, personalized approaches to increase the likelihood of successful engagement.
The NSC recommends implementing robust verification procedures when initiating contact with unknown entities, whether in business, academic, or other contexts. This includes conducting communication across multiple platforms and utilizing voice or video calls to confirm the identity of the approaching party.
A senior NSC official elaborated: "This incident is not isolated. Additional cases may exist. These approaches can take various forms – business, medical, or other fields – and aren't limited to the Emirates. Similar incidents have occurred in other locations and could happen anywhere. Their goal is to kidnap or eliminate targets, and as we know, they operate both directly and through proxies, employing various methods and approaches wherever they identify vulnerabilities. This incident raises red flags – communication limited to Telegram or emails without willingness to engage on other platforms should be considered a warning sign, requiring heightened vigilance."
The official added: "There's no specific target profile – this could occur in virtually any country, making it crucial to understand their methodology rather than focusing on specific locations. We're seeing this pattern emerge particularly around legal efforts targeting reservists and former military personnel. The more personal information shared about activities, whereabouts, and travel plans, the more tools these operatives have to craft authentic-seeming approaches. This vulnerability extends to potential targeting abroad, and especially in the current climate, minimizing information sharing, particularly in real-time, is crucial for all Israelis – oversharing can lead to serious consequences."
