Iran and its proxies have been involved in nine plots against Israeli and Jewish targets so far this year, according to "Law Enforcement Sensitive" New York Police Department documents obtained by Reuters. Through its proxy militias like Hizballah and the Revolutionary Guard, one document claims that Iran has "sharply increased its operational tempo and its willingness to conduct terrorist attacks targeting Israeli interests and the International Jewish community worldwide."
The documents note that Iranian and Hizballah involvement is suspected in three plots in January, three plots in February, and three more since late June. The geographical spread of the attacks is of concern as well, with Iranian agents planning anti-Jewish and anti-Israel bombings in Thailand, Kenya, Cyprus, Azerbaijan, India, and Georgia. Combined with a plot against the Saudi ambassador and Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., the data suggest Iran has become significantly more daring in its international operations.
Some of the bombs used in the plots had similar features like military grade plastic explosives and magnets to attach the device to metal targets, Reuters reports. However, they range in degrees of sophistication from remotely detonated bombs to simple pull-and-throw devices.
U.S. officials also increasingly agree with Israeli accusations about Iranian or Hizballah connections to a suicide bombing in Bulgaria Wednesday in which five Israeli tourists and a bus driver were killed after they boarded an airport bus.
Although the documents show that America recognizes the extent of Iran's plotting, Israel believes that the Islamic Republic has been involved in more than twice that many terror plots during the past year.
Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, disclosed Thursday that last year there were "20 Iranian attempts at terrorist attacks abroad, in which there was direct involvement of five Iranians, two Hezbollah operatives." This includes a less publicized plot broken up in South Africa, and recently described by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.