An attack that was thwarted on Monday morning against a foreign embassy in Azerbaijan is being investigated as a terrorist incident which targeted the Israeli embassy, local media reported.
The local police in Azerbaijan understand that the attempted attack was definitely aimed at a foreign country, but the possibility that it targeted Israel is still being investigated, the reports said.
The reports indicated that an Afghan citizen, identified as Pavzan Musa Khan, was arrested by Azerbaijan security services on suspicions of planning a terrorist attack against a foreign embassy. The State Security Service of Azerbaijan issued a statement indicating that Khan allegedly conspired with others to execute acts of terrorism within Azerbaijan's territory.
Investigations into the case revealed that Khan meticulously observed the area where diplomatic missions are located, and reportedly made contact with individuals who could potentially be involved in the planned attack.
While the reports did not explicitly specify which embassy was targeted, photographs released by the security service suggested that Musa Khan had been surveilling the Hyatt Regency hotel complex in Baku, where the Israeli embassy is located.
About a week and a half ago, the Mossad revealed new details about the terrorist cell directed by Iran which was foiled in Cyprus and which intended to harm Israeli businessmen in Cyprus.
The terrorist cell leader, Yousef Shahbazi Abbasalilo, described how his Iranian handler instructed him to enter Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus and how a group of Pakistani men was to bring him from there to southern Cyprus.
The handler, Shoustari Zadeh, told Abbasalilo that the Pakistani men were trustworthy because they had successfully carried out an assassination previously.
Abbasalilo was seized by Mossad agents while still in Iran, leading to the attack being thwarted.
The Mossad stated: "In a counter-terrorist operation on Iranian soil, the Mossad apprehended the head of the cell, who gave his investigators a detailed confession bringing about the dismantling of the attack cell in Cyprus."
"Yusef Shahabazi Abbasalilu received detailed instructions and weapons from senior Revolutionary Guards personnel in Iran. During questioning, he admitted to his involvement in an attempted attack and described how he tried to carry it out. In the wake of the information that he gave to investigators, the cell was dismantled in an operation by the Cypriot security services."
"The uncovering follows a series of arrests in Cyprus last week in which Iranian activity on Cypriot soil was revealed in a continuing effort to carry out terrorist attacks and harm Israelis and Jews around the world. The Mossad will continue to take determined action to prevent attacks on Jews and Israelis around the world."
Azerbaijan, a largely Shiite Muslim country, borders Iran, making Baku's strengthening alliance with Israel an important factor for Israeli defense and Middle Eastern geopolitics.
Last November, the Azerbaijani parliament announced its historic decision to open an embassy in Israel.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev later signed an order on the establishment of the embassy, which will be located in Tel Aviv, and will be the first embassy in Israel of a country with a Shiite majority and a Shiite government.
Azerbaijan opened a trade representation office in Israel in 2021. President Isaac Herzog visited Azerbaijan in May, and met with Aliyev.