JAKARTA - Israel is urging its citizens to avoid Istanbul, Turkey or leave the region immediately if they are already there, raising a warning issued May 30 regarding threats from Iran against kidnapping or killing Israeli citizens on vacation.
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said the "huge efforts" by Israeli security forces had saved "Israeli lives in recent weeks", thanking the Turkish government for its contribution.
He gave no further details. But, an Israeli security official told Reuters Turkey had arrested several suspects for the 'operation' of Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), Tehran's elite force.
"We call on Israelis not to fly to Istanbul, and if you don't have an important reason, don't fly to Turkey. If you are already in Istanbul, return to Israel as soon as possible," Lapid said in a televised statement. June.
"These terrorist threats are aimed at vacationing Israelis. They choose, at random but in a deliberate way, Israeli citizens with the intent to kidnap or kill them," he explained.
"I want, from here, to convey a message to Iran as well. Anyone who harms the Israelis will not get away with it. Israel's long arms will arrest them, wherever they are," he stressed.
Separately, Tehran has vowed to retaliate against Israel, which is blamed for the May 22 killing of Hassan Sayad Khodai, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps colonel who was shot dead at the wheel of his car, by two men riding a motorbike.
Israel neither confirms nor denies any charge of responsibility, its standard policy on murder charges. He accused Khodai of plotting attacks against his citizens around the world.
It is known, Turkey is a popular tourist destination for Israelis. The two countries have improved their ties after more than a decade of strained relations.
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