Israeli intelligence warned Australia of Iranian terror networks

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Senior Israeli intelligence officers say Australia was warned months upfront in regards to the institution of foreign-linked terror infrastructure on its soil, together with exercise aimed toward Jewish communities, amid rising considerations about each Iranian-directed operations and a possible resurgence of ISIS in Syria.

Based on a senior Israeli intelligence official who spoke on background with Fox Information Digital, Israel’s international intelligence service offered Australian authorities with concrete warnings about what the official described as Iranian-directed terror activity working inside Australia. The warning, the official stated, was not in regards to the Bondi Seashore assault particularly, however about broader efforts to construct terror networks with the intent of harming Jewish targets.

"We stopped just a few ticking bombs," the official stated. "The goal was on individuals’s heads."

RABBI KILLED IN SYDNEY HANUKKAH ATTACK HAD WARNED AUSTRALIAN PM ABOUT RISING ANTISEMITISM

<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/12/672/378/eyewitness-pandemonium-sydney-hanukkah-terrorist-attack.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/12/1344/756/eyewitness-pandemonium-sydney-hanukkah-terrorist-attack.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/12/931/523/eyewitness-pandemonium-sydney-hanukkah-terrorist-attack.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/12/1862/1046/eyewitness-pandemonium-sydney-hanukkah-terrorist-attack.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> Individuals stroll as law enforcement officials stand guard on the road following a taking pictures incident at Bondi Seashore, in Sydney, Australia, Dec. 14, 2025. (AAP/Jeremy Piper/through Reuters)

The official stated Israeli intelligence recognized Iranian steerage and coordination, together with operatives allegedly possessing weapons and working "within the heart of Jewish communities," whereas remaining undetected by native authorities.

Within the months previous the Bondi Seashore assault, the Australian authorities expelled Iran’s ambassador after its home safety providers publicly accused Iran of directing or enabling assaults in opposition to Jewish targets in Australia. Tehran rejected the allegations and denied involvement.

After the taking pictures, Iranian state media printed an official condemnation of the assault, denouncing the killing of civilians and rejecting any connection between Iran and the violence. Australian officers stated the investigation into the assault stays ongoing and haven't attributed it to a international state. An intelligence supply stated we'll know within the subsequent few days if there was such steerage.

The Israeli intelligence assessments align with warnings from a senior international diplomatic supply, who described the present menace surroundings as being pushed by a worldwide contagion impact, wherein extremist networks worldwide amplify and have fun assaults, encouraging others to duplicate them.

Based on the diplomatic supply, on-line jihadist ecosystems play a central function in accelerating this dynamic, quickly turning incitement into motion. From an operational standpoint, the supply stated such assaults are more and more engaging to extremists as a result of they're comparatively easy to hold out whereas producing disproportionate impression.

AFTER AUSTRALIA’S HANUKKAH MASSACRE, CRITICS SAY APPEASING EXTREMISTS AFTER OCT 7 FUELED RISING ANTISEMITISM

Armed police work on the scene after a taking pictures incident at Bondi Seashore in Sydney on Dec. 14, 2025. Australian police stated two individuals had been in custody following stories of a number of gunshots at Sydney's famed Bondi Seashore, urging the general public to take shelter. (David Grey/AFP through Getty Photographs)

Two sources cautioned that the menace extends past Jewish targets, warning that attacks against Christian communities are additionally believable, notably throughout overlapping Jewish and Christian vacation intervals that are likely to heighten extremist motivation.

The senior Israeli intelligence official stated Australia just isn't an remoted case, describing what he stated is a pointy world rise in Iranian-linked terror exercise focusing on Jews.

"Because the battle, there's a large rise in makes an attempt by Iran to execute terror all around the world in opposition to Jews," the official stated. "Not solely Australia."

The official stated Israeli intelligence has recognized or disrupted related exercise in Europe, Africa and Asia, together with Germany, Austria and a number of places past the Center East, in addition to alleged plots in South America, India and Thailand.

"In the event you knew what number of terror assaults the Mossad has prevented , you'll drop your jaw," the official informed Fox Information Digital.

A second senior Israeli intelligence supply stated the menace panorama has worsened after two years of battle within the Center East, which the supply stated has energized radical Islamist actions globally.

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<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/12/672/378/sydney-bondi-beach-terror-attack-police-response-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/12/1344/756/sydney-bondi-beach-terror-attack-police-response-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/12/931/523/sydney-bondi-beach-terror-attack-police-response-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/12/1862/1046/sydney-bondi-beach-terror-attack-police-response-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> Police groups take safety measures at Bondi Seashore in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday after a terrorist assault focusing on the Jewish group in the course of the first evening of Hanukkah. ( Claudio Galdames A/Anadolu through Getty Photographs)

Based on the supply, the menace more and more comes from lone actors or sleeper cells, which require minimal assets and are tougher to detect, however can nonetheless trigger mass casualties and encourage copycat assaults.

The supply warned specifically about developments in Syria , saying the instability there may permit ISIS to regroup and reemerge, creating new waves of violence past the area. "I’m apprehensive about Syria and that ISIS will return," the supply stated, whereas additionally warning that the latest assault in Australia may encourage additional violence elsewhere.

The intelligence warnings resurfaced after a terror attack Sunday evening at a public Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Seashore, considered one of Australia’s most iconic and densely populated places.

Australian authorities stated two gunmen — a father and his grownup son — opened fire on the beach , killing at the least 15 individuals and wounding dozens. Police stated the daddy was killed on the scene, whereas the son was shot by officers and brought to a hospital in important situation. Authorities categorised the taking pictures as a terrorist assault focusing on the Jewish group.

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<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/12/343/192/rabbi-schlanger-wrote-letter-to-australian-pm-sydney-hanukkah-terror-attack.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/12/686/384/rabbi-schlanger-wrote-letter-to-australian-pm-sydney-hanukkah-terror-attack.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/12/672/378/rabbi-schlanger-wrote-letter-to-australian-pm-sydney-hanukkah-terror-attack.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/12/1344/756/rabbi-schlanger-wrote-letter-to-australian-pm-sydney-hanukkah-terror-attack.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/12/931/523/rabbi-schlanger-wrote-letter-to-australian-pm-sydney-hanukkah-terror-attack.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/12/1862/1046/rabbi-schlanger-wrote-letter-to-australian-pm-sydney-hanukkah-terror-attack.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/12/720/405/rabbi-schlanger-wrote-letter-to-australian-pm-sydney-hanukkah-terror-attack.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/12/1440/810/rabbi-schlanger-wrote-letter-to-australian-pm-sydney-hanukkah-terror-attack.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> A menorah is projected onto the Sydney Opera Home sails after a taking pictures throughout a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Seashore in Sydney, Australia, on Dec. 15, 2025. (Reuters/Hollie Adams)

Whereas Australian officers haven't linked the Bondi Seashore assault to international intelligence course, the incident has intensified scrutiny of earlier warnings, the rise in antisemitic incidents nationwide and whether or not enough motion was taken to disrupt rising threats.

Australian leaders have condemned the assault, elevated safety round Jewish establishments and pledged to assessment counterterrorism measures.

Efrat Lachter is an investigative reporter and battle correspondent. Her work has taken her to 40 international locations, together with Ukraine, Russia, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan. She is a recipient of the 2024 Knight-Wallace Fellowship for Journalism. Lachter might be adopted on X @efratlachter.