Mossad foils Iranian plot to infiltrate terror cell into Israel, target senior officials

Israel's intelligence agencies, the Mossad and Shin Bet, announced on Thursday the disruption of a sophisticated Iranian terror network. The network utilized a novel "proxy-by-proxy" strategy, a departure from Iran's previous direct recruitment methods for attacks against Israel and Jewish targets worldwide.

Under this new tactic, the Iranian Intelligence Ministry enlists intermediaries to recruit operatives. This approach is designed to distance Tehran from the operations and mitigate potential repercussions. The goal was to facilitate the infiltration of foreign nationals into Israel to carry out terror attacks and assassinations.

The agencies identified four Iranian Intelligence Ministry officials involved in these efforts: Adala Bahazada Uhsari, Vahid Maatzumi, Mahmoud-Hussein Duki, and Hamid Qasami. These individuals worked to recruit middlemen, who in turn recruited other individuals. In one specific case, French-Muslim citizen Tarout Ozokor, operating under the alias "Philip," was recruited by intermediaries Baback and Nadim. Philip was tasked with assembling his own operational terror cell but was discovered and deported from France.

While Uhsari was reportedly assassinated during a conflict with Iran earlier in 2026, Baback, Nadim, and others continue to advance Iran's terror objectives. The Mossad and Shin Bet noted that security lapses within the terror chain have repeatedly aided international partners in uncovering Iran's involvement, despite Tehran's attempts to conceal its role. The announcement comes as Israel seeks to bolster international support against Iran.