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Middle East
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (left). Photo: AFP; IRGC commander Hossein Salami (right). Photo: AFP; Graphic: Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Israel on Monday warned its citizens against travel to Turkey and other countries bordering Iran, labeling them as high-risk areas for Israelis amid fears of Iranian retaliation to the killing of an Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ (IRGC) commander earlier this month.
The statement from the Israeli National Security Council (NSC) warned Israelis not to travel to Turkey “in light of the assessment that the Iranians intend to harm Israelis in the area.”
The Israeli NSC called on its citizens to not travel to Turkey and other countries neighboring Iran unless the travel is essential, and asked them to take necessary precautions if they are obliged to enter the country.
Colonel Sayyad Khodai was shot dead last Sunday outside his home in Tehran by assailants on motorcycles, in a killing Iran blamed on "elements linked to the global arrogance", its term for the United States and its allies including Israel.
Though no public statement has been made by Jerusalem regarding the accusations or the murder, an intelligence official told The New York Times last week that Israel had informed American officials that it was behind the killing.
The killing of Khodai, which is perhaps the most high profile killing inside Iran since the November 2020 murder of top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, has brought several Iranian officials on the edge, vowing revenge for his death.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was among the first people to do so.
“I insist on the serious pursuit [of the killers] by security officials, and I have no doubt that the blood of this great martyr will be avenged,” Raisi warned last week.
The president’s remarks were followed by stronger threats from the IRGC.
Iranian state media on Monday reported that IRGC commander Hossein Salami had visited the family of Colonel Khodaei and told them that as a martyr, his status is higher because he was killed by the Israelis.
Commander Salami echoed President Raisi's call to avenge the colonel's death.
“God willing, we will avenge his death,” Salami was reported saying two days after the Iranian army unveiled a massive underground drone base in an attempt to threaten Iran’s enemies.
The latest travel advice follows a visit last week by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to Israel, signaling a thaw in relations between the two countries.
The statement from the Israeli National Security Council (NSC) warned Israelis not to travel to Turkey “in light of the assessment that the Iranians intend to harm Israelis in the area.”
The Israeli NSC called on its citizens to not travel to Turkey and other countries neighboring Iran unless the travel is essential, and asked them to take necessary precautions if they are obliged to enter the country.
Colonel Sayyad Khodai was shot dead last Sunday outside his home in Tehran by assailants on motorcycles, in a killing Iran blamed on "elements linked to the global arrogance", its term for the United States and its allies including Israel.
Though no public statement has been made by Jerusalem regarding the accusations or the murder, an intelligence official told The New York Times last week that Israel had informed American officials that it was behind the killing.
The killing of Khodai, which is perhaps the most high profile killing inside Iran since the November 2020 murder of top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, has brought several Iranian officials on the edge, vowing revenge for his death.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was among the first people to do so.
“I insist on the serious pursuit [of the killers] by security officials, and I have no doubt that the blood of this great martyr will be avenged,” Raisi warned last week.
The president’s remarks were followed by stronger threats from the IRGC.
Iranian state media on Monday reported that IRGC commander Hossein Salami had visited the family of Colonel Khodaei and told them that as a martyr, his status is higher because he was killed by the Israelis.
Commander Salami echoed President Raisi's call to avenge the colonel's death.
“God willing, we will avenge his death,” Salami was reported saying two days after the Iranian army unveiled a massive underground drone base in an attempt to threaten Iran’s enemies.
The latest travel advice follows a visit last week by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to Israel, signaling a thaw in relations between the two countries.
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