Israeli FM thanks Türkiye for foiling attempts to assassinate Israeli nationals

Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid hailed security cooperation with Turkey in helping foil an Iranian plot to kidnap or kill Israeli nationals in Istanbul, as he met his counterpart in Ankara for high-level talks aimed at cementing the countries’ rapprochement on June 23.

Standing next to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu after talks in the Turkish capital, Lapid said Israel is confident that Ankara “knows how to respond to the Iranians” in the wake of ongoing attempts to harm Israeli travellers on Turkish soil, according to The Times of Israel.

“The lives of Israeli citizens have been saved thanks to the security and diplomatic cooperation between Israel and Turkiye,” said Lapid, using the country’s new official name.

“Iran is behind these attempted terrorist attacks,” said Lapid. “The intelligence leaves no doubt about it.”

“Israel won’t sit idly by when there are attempts to harm its citizens in Israel and around the world,” he pledged, speaking in English.

While in Ankara, Lapid also reportedly met with Hakan Fidan, the head of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization who is considered close with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to Hebrew media reports, the two discussed efforts to thwart the alleged Iranian attack plans.

Earlier in the day, Turkish media reported that the country’s security forces detained several people allegedly working for an Iranian intelligence cell that planned to assassinate or snatch Israeli tourists in Istanbul.

The news of the bust, and Lapid’s visit, came weeks after Israel ordered its citizens in Istanbul to leave immediately, warning of an imminent Iranian attack plot targeting Israelis in Turkey.

Speaking before Lapid, Cavusoglu promised Turkey would never allow Iran to carry out attacks on its soil.

“We can never allow such things to unfold in our country, and we will never allow such things to take place in our country,” he said.

Lapid thanked Turkey for the coordination and said the sides were aiming to lower the Israeli travel warning before the peak summer travel season.