Israel blames Unit 910 for Bondi Beach terror attack | World | News
Israeli authorities believe the devastating Sydney terror attack, which claimed the lives of at least 15 people, may have been carried out by a foreign terrorist cell backed by Iran. According to Israeli media reports, authorities have named Iran as the primary suspect and are also investigating possible links to groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas and Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The attack, which targeted a Jewish community celebrating Hanukkah, the festival of lights at Bondi Beach, has been described as Australia’s worst mass shooting in decades. Australian officials have not publicly confirmed foreign involvement in the attack.
Intelligence sources point to complex planning that is hallmark of Hezbollah’s Unit 910
Intelligence sources told the Telegraph that the attack on the Bondi Beach celebrations appeared sophisticated and well-planned, bearing the hallmarks of Unit 910, Hezbollah’s feared foreign operations arm. Iran’s involvement in the attack will follow recent terror plots and attacks in Australia.
In October, Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency revealed that it had foiled dozens of terrorist attacks around the world against Jewish and Israeli targets in countries including Greece, Germany, Belgium, Sweden and Australia since October 7, 2023.
Australia expels Iranian ambassador over allegations of attacks on Jewish targets
In August, Australia ordered the Iranian ambassador to leave the country after claiming Tehran had carried out attacks on Jewish targets in Sydney and Melbourne, including an arson attack on a Sydney cafe in October 2024 and a synagogue in Melbourne in December.
Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) chief Mike Burgess said his teams had uncovered links “between the alleged crimes and commanders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)”.
Intelligence services also told the Telegraph they had found evidence that Iran was likely behind other anti-Semitic incidents in Australia, including the Iranian-backed Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October and subsequent attacks on Jewish schools, homes, vehicles and synagogues since the war in Gaza.
Experts focus on possible Iranian involvement and difficulties in the investigation
Danny Citrinowicz, an Iran expert at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, told the Telegraph it was “too early to draw conclusions” but conceded that Iran and Hezbollah were “definitely suspect and high on the priority list” given their recent activities in Australia.
Israeli Hezbollah intelligence expert Ronen Solomon told reporters that the attackers bypassed local security, gathered detailed information about the target and thoroughly planned the attack. He warned that if the investigation blamed Iran or Hezbollah, Israel would respond and further complicate the situation.
It cannot be ignored that Sunni groups such as Al Qaeda and ISIS are also active in Australia.
While experts point out that Iran was involved in the targeting of Jewish facilities in Sydney and Melbourne, they do not rule out the possibility that Sunni groups were behind the attack. The fact that Al Qaeda and ISIS are also active in Australia makes the investigation even more difficult if Iran or Hezbollah are involved, as they are known to hide their tracks well.
An Israeli intelligence source told The Telegraph that officials were keeping an open mind but that the operation bore the hallmarks of a state-sponsored activity, given the level of organization and use of long-range weapons.
“It was very well organized in advance by a coordinated group, and the amount of ammunition and long-range weapons indicate this,” the source said.
Mossad claimed in October that it had identified General Ammar, the senior commander of the IRGC-Quds Force, as the mastermind behind a transnational network responsible for anti-Semitic attacks in several Western countries, including Australia, following the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack.
Mossad said the network intensified its activities after the Oct. 7 attack and targeted Jewish and Israeli sites around the world.
As the investigation into the Sydney terror attack continues, the world awaits more information about the perpetrators and their possible links to Iran and other foreign terrorist groups. The tragic incident is a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of terrorism and the need for caution in combating extremism.
