‘’For several weeks, especially since Iran has accused Israel in the death of an IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps,) officer last week, there is increasing concern in the security establishment regarding Iranian efforts to attack Israeli targets around the world,’’ says a statement from Israel’s National Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Bureau.

 

Israel’s National Security Council Counter-Terrorism Bureau on Monday issued a warning statement on travel to Turkey for Israelis.

‘’For several weeks, especially since Iran has accused Israel in the death of an IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps,) officer last week, there is increasing concern in the security establishment regarding Iranian efforts to attack Israeli targets around the world,’’ says the statement.

It adds: ‘’Therefore, the National Security Council and the security establishment underscore the travel warning to Turkey and reiterate that it is a country that currently has a high level of risk for Israelis.’’

According to the security establishment, ‘’the warning stems from a tangible threat to Israelis in Turkey. There is also a higher threat level in additional countries bordering Iran. Therefore, Israeli citizens should be alert and take care to show all due caution regarding travel to any of these countries.’’

Colonel Hassan Sayad Khodaei, a shadowy figure in Iran’s IRGC corps, was killed by gunmen outside his home in Tehran on May 22. Iranian media described Khodaei as a “defender of the shrine,” which refers to members of the IRGC’s overseas arm, the Quds Force.

According to the Israeli media, Khodaei was previously involved in killings and abductions outside of Iran, including planned attacks against Israelis. A leak to The New York Times last week suggested that Israeli officials told their US counterparts that they were responsible for the killing.

The U.S. Secretary of State designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Quds Force as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in 2019 based on the IRGC’s “continued support to and engagement in terrorist activity around the world.”

The Quds force is ran from Tehran, and has ties with armed groups in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip.