Israel encourages citizens leave Turkey following tensions with Iran

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Senior Israeli officials warned Israelis Friday to leave Turkey immediately following Iran’s vow to avenge the assassination of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Col. Hassan Sayad Khodayari in Tehran last month.

The warnings from the political and security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity for The Times of Israel, come after a week in which Israel has urged its citizens in Turkey to immediately return home, and issued its highest possible security warning that Iranian agents are planning to kill or kidnap Israelis.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid called on Israelis on June 13 to leave Istanbul following the publication of reports that Israel and Turkey thwarted an Iranian terrorist attack in the city last month.

Also at a press conference on June 15, Lapid said that “People need to be very careful and take the warnings very seriously.”

Another senior Israeli defense establishment official told Ynet on Friday that Iranian terror cells are “looking for Israelis” on the streets of Istanbul after being given an order to target Israelis in Turkey.

“Not everything can be thwarted,” the official said, reiterating requests for Israelis to return home from vacations in Turkey.

Turkey, on its part, gave a “blunt and forceful message” to Iran that it will not allow it to use its territory to conduct or organize terrorism acts against other states, Channel 12 news reported.

The assassination of the Iranian officer was just part of many things that recently raised tensions between Israel and Iran. Other issues includes airstrikes against Iran-linked targets in Syria, threatening rhetoric from Iranian leaders and Iran’s increasing violations of nuclear agreements.