Israel says Iranian plot to attack citizens in Cyprus foiled

Israel said Saturday that an Iranian plot to attack Israeli citizens in Cyprus had been foiled, as the war between the two arch-rivals raged for a ninth day.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar wrote on X that Iran's Revolutionary Guards had "tried to carry out an attack on Israeli citizens in Cyprus", a transit point where thousands have gathered either awaiting repatriation to Israel or having left the country.

"Thanks to the activity of the Cypriot security authorities, in cooperation with Israeli security services, the terror attack was thwarted," Saar said.

Cyprus police said earlier Saturday that they had arrested an individual on espionage and terror charges, with local media reporting the suspect had ties to Iran.

It was not clear whether the arrest was related to the plan mentioned by Saar, and Cypriot police declined to provide extensive details on the case.

The Mediterranean island, home to many Israeli expats and a popular holiday destination, has become a staging post for Israelis seeking to return home by air or sea after being stranded abroad by the start of the fighting.

A first boat from Cyprus carrying 1,500 Israelis docked in the Israeli port of Ashdod on Friday.

After Israel's airports were closed and outbound flights cancelled following Israel's attack on Iran on June 13, up to 150,000 Israelis found themselves stranded abroad, according to transport ministry figures.

Thousands have since returned home on flights by Israeli national carrier El Al and low-cost airline Arkia with Larnaca in Cyprus used as a hub along with Athens, Rome, Milan and Paris.

Thanks to its location in the eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus has become a key transit hub for third-country nationals fleeing the region since the recent outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Iran.