In Cyprus, a thwarted terrorist attack echoes the events of a past incident involving Playtech from 2021.
Law enforcement and security agents in Cyprus managed to prevent a potential terror attack from causing harm to anyone. This achievement was the result of a collaborative effort among several governments and appears to have similarities with a former attempt on gambling software firm Playtech in Cyprus two years ago.
The weekend saw reports of Cypriot authorities foiling an attack that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was plotting in the country. According to these reports, the military group aimed to target Israeli businesses stationed in Cyprus.
Back in September 2021, the IRGC was believed to be in the process of planning a comparable terror attack. The target then was allegedly the office building of Playtech, with the possibility of endangering its founder, Teddy Sagi.
Thwarted Again
The close ties between Israel and Cyprus have been on the rise, making Cyprus an ideal base for Israeli businesses seeking to expand into Europe. In contrast, the IRGC holds a grudge against this strengthening relationship with Israel and has a history of lashing out at weaker targets.
Cypriot intelligence managed to dismantle an IRGC cell, arresting numerous suspects. Their leader, however, managed to escape capture.
The countries that could potentially have been targeted have not been disclosed, let alone any details on the Western partners who played a role. However, indications point toward the involvement of the US and Israel.
The intelligence agencies had been monitoring the activities of the IRGC for a while, tracking their conversations and movements. This surveillance was likely triggered by a previous threat the terrorist organization had issued.
In March, an IRGC officer named Milad Heydari was killed in an airstrike in Damascus, Syria. The terrorist group blamed Israel for the attack, prompting the IRGC to announce its intention to retaliate by targeting Israeli interests.
The terror cell that was intercepted this time reportedly infiltrated Cyprus through Turkey. Although it's unlikely that they received support from Turkey, they found a safe haven in the northern part of the country, where Turkish control is present.
In the previous year, Turkey helped to halt a similar plot by detaining a group of Iranians in Istanbul who were suspected of kidnapping and killing Israeli diplomats and tourists.
Possible Assault on Playtech
The exact role Playtech played in the now-defunct terrorist operation from two years ago remains uncertain. Intelligence forces stepped in to prevent an eventual assassination during this period as well.
A man from Azerbaijan who arrived in Cyprus with a Russian passport was taken into custody. He had been under surveillance while surveilling the building where Playtech operates. When investigators apprehended him, he only had a silenced pistol in his possession.
One account suggests that the attack was motivated by money owed to Russian business partners by Sagi, an Israeli billionaire who ranks fourth on the Forbes richest list. According to this version, the assassin had been ordered to take out Sagi as a result.
Another version, which was supported by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, claimed that the mission was not related to Sagi personally. Instead, the assassin had been sent by Iran to target other Israeli business owners in Cyprus. In this scenario, the attack was considered to be "orchestrated by Iran."
The US Director of National Intelligence depicts the IRGC as a defense force designated to maintain the Iranian revolutionary regime. Featuring an estimated strength of 190,000 members, up to 15,000 of them serve as the IRGC-Qods Force (IRGC-QF). This division conducts terrorism operations on foreign soil, with the aim of undermining "US, Israeli, Saudi, and UAE interests, as well as Iranian dissident groups." The group openly embraces terrorism as a tool in its pursuit of its objectives.
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Source: www.casino.org
