Israeli and international intelligence services have foiled an Iranian plan to infiltrate a foreign terror cell into Israel to assassinate senior Israeli figures, the Prime Minister’s Office announced on behalf of the Mossad.

The operation was directed by officers from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence, which used criminal proxy networks to recruit people capable of entering Israel. The operatives were intended first to gather intelligence on their targets and later carry out attacks.

A central figure in the plot was Tharwat Ozkur, known as “Philip,” who lived in France and was tasked with recruiting foreign nationals for the operational cell. He reportedly traveled to Iran several times, met his handlers and received payment for advancing the mission.