Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu [UPI=Yonhap News]

Israeli intelligence authorities have alleged that Iran attempted to assassinate high-ranking Israeli officials by mobilizing foreign operatives.

According to CNN, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office issued a statement on behalf of the intelligence agency Mossad on the 23rd (local time), raising suspicions that Iran had recruited foreign agents to target senior Israeli officials for assassination.

According to Mossad, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence utilized criminal organizations as proxies to gather information on targets and recruit personnel to carry out actual attacks.

The Israeli daily The Times of Israel reported that Iranian forces had recruited a criminal named Turut Ozcor, who lives in France and goes by the name "Philip."

Philip was tasked with recruiting a network of foreign operatives to be brought into Israel.

Investigations revealed that he visited Iran several times to meet with his handlers and receive operational funds, and Mossad stated that he has since been deported from France.

In its statement, Mossad claimed, "We have worked with our international partners to thwart dozens of Iranian attack plots," adding, "Iran attempted to hide its direct involvement, but the failed operations exposed the Iranian controllers behind them."

Israel believes that espionage activities linked to Iran have surged within its borders recently.

CNN reported that at least 60 Israelis have been indicted for espionage on behalf of Iran since 2023.

Israeli prosecutors allege that these individuals filmed key Israeli facilities and handed the footage over to Iran, and that those specific facilities subsequently became targets of Iranian missile attacks.