The National Security Council said it had raised the alert level to 4, the highest, where Israelis are explicitly urged not to visit an area and to leave if they are already inside. Countries with the Level 4 “high threat” warning include Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan and Iran. The authority said it had raised the alert level amid a “continuing threat and escalating Iranian intentions to harm Israelis in Turkey, with an emphasis on Istanbul”. Other parts of Turkey remained at level 3 warning, with recommendations to avoid visiting the country for non-essential reasons. Earlier, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid called on Israelis in Turkey to return immediately and for citizens to cancel travel plans in the country. “If you are already in Istanbul, return to Israel as soon as possible,” he said. “If you are planning a trip to Istanbul – cancel it. “No vacation is worth risking your life.” Get the Times of Israel Daily E-mail and never miss our top stories By registering, you agree to the terms Lapid’s instruction at the start of a meeting of Yesh Atid’s party faction came after reports Sunday that Israeli and Turkish security services thwarted an Iranian conspiracy to kidnap Israeli tourists to Turkey last month. Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid speaks during a faction meeting in the Knesset on June 13, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi / Flash90) “Israeli security organizations, the Foreign Ministry, the Prime Minister’s Office – we have all been involved in a huge effort in recent weeks that has saved the lives of Israelis,” Lapid said. “Some of them have returned to Israel and are walking among us without even knowing that their lives have been saved.” He said Iranian agents were still trying to kill or abduct Israelis, calling the threat “real and immediate”. The Foreign Minister continued by thanking the Turkish government for its efforts to protect the Israelis in the country. “Tourism in Turkey is important for both countries, but they also understand that there are risks that should not be taken,” Lapid said. He later warned that Israel would react if Iran succeeded in harming the Israelis. Although travel warnings are generally not issued during party meetings, a Lapid spokesman told the Times of Israel that he had coordinated with all relevant ministries and that it simply happened to be the forum Lapid spoke to on Monday. According to Jewish media reports on Sunday, the Israeli and Turkish security services last month uncovered an Iranian conspiracy to kidnap Israeli tourists to Turkey and prevented it from happening. Israeli security officials reportedly briefed their Turkish counterparts on the plan and called for measures to be taken to prevent the attack. The reports, citing unnamed senior Israeli sources, did not specify the nationality of the alleged agents for Iran, how many were involved or whether arrests had been made. Israeli Channel 12 news reported Monday night that “there are still Iranian nuclei in the region” and that “ongoing co-operation between Mossad and the Turkish [security agencies]impressive collaboration, to thwart this series of [potential] “The unnamed report also stated that there was an unspecified number of arrests.” The National Security Council revised its travel warning for Turkey last month to level three of four, saying there was a specific threat to Israelis from “Iranian terrorists” there and in nearby countries. This warning followed the assassination of a senior officer of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Colonel Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, for which Iran has blamed Israel. The mourners attend the funeral of Iranian Revolutionary Guards Colonel Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, shown in the poster, who was killed Sunday in Tehran, Iran, May 24, 2022. (Vahid Salemi / AP) Khodaei was shot five times in his car by two unidentified gunmen on motorcycles in central Tehran on May 22. He was reportedly involved in killings and kidnappings outside Iran, including attempts to target Israelis. While Israeli diplomatic missions are on alert, waiting for Iran to seek revenge for the assassination, Kan said the attempted Iranian action in Turkey took place before the officer was assassinated. Shortly before Lapid made his remarks on Monday, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said that any “response” the Islamic Republic would make to Israel would take place inside Israel. “If we want to respond to Israel’s activities, our response will be in its place and not in a third country,” said Saeed Khatibzadeh. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh speaks during a press conference in Tehran on March 14, 2022 (AFP) Iranian government spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi told the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim on Monday that Iran “will take any necessary retaliatory action in response to any external action by [the Israeli] regime.” Since Khodaei was killed, another Quds Force officer – overseeing the IRGC overseas operations – has died in undisclosed circumstances, as has a military engineer and a scientist allegedly involved in the development of missiles and drones. According to Channel 12, Israel believes the Iranians have an increased incentive to launch attacks on Israeli targets at the moment, with the IRGC seeking to restore deterrence both within its borders and abroad. You are a devoted reader We’re really glad you read the X Times of Israel articles last month. 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