Israel’s Shin Bet foils Hezbollah plot to kill former senior security official

Israel’s internal security service the Shin Bet said Tuesday it had foiled an attempt by Hezbollah to kill an unnamed former senior Israeli security official using an explosive device.

According to the Shin Bet, the attack was intended to take place in the coming days. The agency did not offer any details as to the site of the planned attack, the identity of the target or if any arrests have been made, reported Maariv.

The agency said that the Hezbollah network behind the plot was also responsible for a bombing in Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park last year. The Shin Bet added that the attackers planned to detonate from Lebanon a remotely activated explosive device known to be in use by Hezbollah. The cell that planned the attack had been under surveillance for a long time, said the agency.

On Sep. 15 2023, Israel police arrested two residents of east Jerusalem suspected of being behind the attack at Yarkon Park, which resulted in no injuries. 

Over the last two days, the Israeli political and security leadership has been holding long consultations on the escalation of tensions on the Lebanese border. Maariv cited security sources as saying that the discussions are still ongoing between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and New Hope's Gideon Saar amid reports that Netanyahu plans to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and replace him with Saar.