Iran unleashes unrestrained terror campaign against Israeli & Jewish targets abroad as part of war effort, security officials warn

A senior official of Israel's National Security Council (NSC) sounded the alarm about an “unprecedented removal of restraints” regarding Iranian terror plots targeting Israelis abroad, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Israel’s security services have identified and warned about an increased threat to Israelis abroad following the strikes on Iranian military and intelligence assets. On Monday, an explosion damaged the facade of a synagogue in Liege, Belgium, without causing injuries.

The official said that following the severe blows suffered by the Iranian regime, it is no longer operating through “layers of deniability.” 

“We are seeing an Iranian removal of restraints that is almost unprecedented,” the official told the Post. “No proxies, no filters. Where they can act, they act. Whether with brazen determination or in a ‘dirty’ manner. It is a fundamental change in approach because they feel they have nothing to lose right now, given what they have absorbed.” 

Due to the increased threat, Israel has boosted security for diplomatic missions around the world and has issued travel warnings regarding several countries often visited by Israeli travelers, including Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. 

The Shin Bet and Israeli Foreign Ministry have increased the operational readiness of security teams protecting Israeli targets abroad in response to concrete threats. 

“In light of concrete threats against Israeli targets and Israeli missions around the world, the Shin Bet, in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry, has recently increased the operational readiness of security teams through specialized activities carried out in close coordination with local security forces around Israeli targets abroad,” the two organizations said in a joint statement. 

The agencies said readiness measures include increased coordination with local security forces and enhanced protection for Israeli diplomatic missions, official delegations, and sites frequently visited by Israelis. 

Israel’s National Security Council has warned of an “expansion of hostile terrorist activity” by Iran following the start of the war. 

“Since the start of Operation Roaring Lion, an increased motivation and expansion of hostile terrorist activity and threats by Iranian security bodies against Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide has been identified,” the council said in a statement. 

The NSC had already warned Israelis not to travel to the United Arab Emirates, over concerns that terror organizations could target Israelis there. In a warning released earlier this month, the NSC said, “At present, the Israeli public staying in the UAE is advised, where possible, to return to Israel using commercial flights.” 

“In addition, the NSC recommends avoiding travel to the UAE at this time and refraining from transit flights through the UAE to or from other destinations,” the statement continued. 

On Monday, a synagogue in Liège, Belgium, was damaged by an explosion, which authorities there are currently calling an “extremely violent act of antisemitism.” Windows on the building’s front façade were blown out by the blast, local media reported.

An explosion, early this morning, at the Belgian city of Liége. The mayor confirms that it was an antisemitic act.
Luckily no one was hurt.

My heart is with the Jewish community of Liége. pic.twitter.com/44QSV4vK6x

— Ambassador Idit Rosenzweig-Abu (@IditAbu) March 9, 2026

Liège Mayor Willy Demeyer also suggested the incident could be linked to the current war in Iran, telling local media, “The probability that it is connected to the current situation in the Middle East is high."

“There can be no question of importing external conflicts into our city,” he said.

Israel’s Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, Idit Rosenzweig-Abu, condemned the attack, adding that “To prevent such attacks,  I hope we would not only see an increase in Jewish communities’ security but also a determination to fight against hate speech that incites them.”

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan said Friday that its security services had thwarted Iranian terrorist attacks targeting local Jewish community leaders, a synagogue, and the Israeli embassy in the capital, Baku.

The NSC official who spoke with The Jerusalem Post said that in the current situation, Iran is recruiting “anyone available,” including criminal organizations and people unaffiliated with its known proxy groups. 

“Anyone who is available and ready to work,” the official said. 

He recommended Israelis abroad “avoid places associated with the Jewish community and Israel.”