Israel’s recent airstrikes on Iran—Operations “Rising Lion” and “Roaring Lion”—targeted infrastructure specifically used to plan terror attacks against Israelis and Jews worldwide, Channel 14 has learned.
The strikes destroyed facilities used for attack planning and killed senior commanders who were orchestrating operations against Israeli and Jewish targets abroad, according to security officials.
1+The revelation comes as the National Security Council issued a stark travel warning Sunday morning, citing what officials describe as a dramatic surge in Iranian and Hezbollah terror threats against Israelis overseas.
Since the start of the year, Israeli security services have thwarted dozens of attempted attacks on Israelis abroad. Iran’s tactics have grown more sophisticated—Tehran now hires assassins and criminals around the world to gather intelligence and carry out attacks, attempting to distance itself from direct responsibility.
Security officials believe Hezbollah will intensify efforts to strike Israelis abroad in the coming period. Israel identifies deep frustration in both Tehran and Beirut following the devastating blows the organizations suffered on the direct front, making the overseas arena a “top priority” for them now. Their goal is to achieve a symbolic revenge victory without triggering a harsh Israeli response on their own soil.
1+A senior National Security Council official told Channel 14 Sunday evening: “We’re identifying a sustained trend of intensifying terror threats against Israelis abroad. This is Iran and Hezbollah’s way of seeking revenge, thinking that they won’t take responsibility for such an event and Israel will be able to contain it. That’s very foolish thinking on their part.”
The NSC is flagging October 7 as a particularly dangerous date due to the numerous memorial ceremonies planned worldwide that will draw hostile attention. Regarding Sinai—long a preferred destination for Israelis—officials see especially high threat potential due to the concentration of tourists, though they note that Israeli visits to the peninsula have dropped dramatically since the war began.