Mossad Reports Iran’s Attempts to Abduct Israeli Citizens

Israeli security officials have stated that Iran, using fake user accounts, has been attempting to abduct Israeli citizens. Mossad said the aim of these actions was to lure Israeli citizens out of the country and trap them.

The report by Mossad and Shin Bet (Israel’s internal security and intelligence service) was released shortly after Iranian officials’ statements regarding Israel’s role in the attack on the Natanz nuclear facility.

The French news agency, reporting from Jerusalem, wrote that the Islamic Republic, by creating fake accounts on Instagram, was seeking to trap and abduct Israeli citizens.

The report stated that Iranian spies, using their fake user accounts, contacted Israeli citizens and attempted to lure them outside the country’s borders.

Mossad and Shin Bet announced in their report that Iranian spies, in these fake accounts, either introduced themselves as women interested in “romantic” contacts or, using the cover of employment in tourism companies, attempted to trap Israeli citizens.

Israeli intelligence agencies further stated in their report that the aim of these actions was to harm Israeli citizens or take them hostage.

It is even said that in one case these efforts were successful and one Israeli citizen acted to leave the country to meet with them. However, timely notification by intelligence sources prevented this citizen from leaving before Israeli authorities intervened.

The French news agency further reported that this accusation was raised by Israeli intelligence agencies only hours after Iran declared Israel responsible for sabotage at its nuclear facility.

Source: DW