Turkish National Intelligence has recently dismantled several Israeli Mossad networks inside Turkish territory (social media sites)
For the second time, Turkey is facing a covert attack from Israel, and the subject is once again Israel's genocide in Gaza.
In December 2008, the Israeli army killed thousands of people in Gaza, during an operation dubbed “Cast Lead.”
And at that time;
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had rebuked Israeli President Shimon Peres in front of the world on January 29, 2009 in Davos, saying: “You know how to kill people very well.”
Turkey did not intend to leave the residents of Gaza alone. In 2010, it sent relief ships towards Gaza, but Israeli soldiers attacked the Mavi Marmara ship on May 31, 2010, killing 10 people and wounding 60 others.
After that, Israeli “hidden” attacks began in Türkiye;
Despite the issuance of arrest warrants against him in Turkey, the leader of the “Fethullah Terrorist Organization,” Fethullah Gulen - who lives in the United States - leveled accusations against Turkey on June 4, 2010 in an article in the American newspaper “The Wall Street Journal.”
Because of the Mavi Marmara ship, saying: “Moving without Israel’s approval is a rebellion against authority.”
Thus, the Israeli Mossad, along with the United States, demonstrated their use of the terrorist organization “FETÖ” in Turkey.
On June 7, 2010, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz clearly wrote that Mossad was disturbed by the appointment of Hakan Fidan as head of Turkish National Intelligence.
On August 1, 2010, the attack became clear;
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak announced their lack of confidence.
Because of the possibility of Hakan Fidan leaking information to Iran.
Open attacks
After this date, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and his government became the target of Gülen, the FETÖ leader who lives in the United States, and state infiltrators in intelligence, police, judges, and prosecutors.
On February 7, 2012, there was an attempt to arrest intelligence chief Hakan Fidan, followed by operations on December 17/25, 2013, the arrest of Turkish intelligence trucks in January 2014, and Operation Peace Deviation, which were attempts by “FETÖ.” ", which received support from Israel and the United States, to topple Erdogan's government through judicial processes.
After the failure of these operations, FETÖ, which is supported by Israel and the United States, attempted a military coup on July 15, 2016, but it also failed.
Since October 7, 2023, Turkey has once again confronted Israel over the genocide in Gaza.
Turkey, which responded strongly to the genocide in Gaza from the beginning, faces “open” and “hidden” threats and attacks from Israel, but this time Israel targeted not only Turkey, but also Qatar and Lebanon.
On December 1, 2023;
The American Wall Street Journal wrote that Israel is planning to kill Hamas leaders in different parts of the world after the war.
The newspaper reported that intelligence agencies began planning to kill Hamas leaders who live in Turkey, Lebanon and Qatar.
Officials indicated that the order came directly from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On November 22, Netanyahu announced in Tel Aviv that he had ordered Mossad to act against Hamas leaders wherever they were identified.
The Israeli newspaper "Jerusalem Post" wrote that Netanyahu's statements suggest that Hamas leaders could be targeted outside Gaza, even in Qatar.
It was not long before Israeli television published audio recordings of the head of the Israeli Shin Bet internal security service, Ronen Bar, who said in the recording: “We will kill Hamas leaders wherever they are, whether in Gaza, Qatar, Turkey, or Lebanon... even if it takes years. The government "It gave us a mission: to eliminate Hamas. We are determined to achieve this. This is our Munich."
Indeed, on January 3, 2024, Hamas’s “number two,” Saleh al-Arouri, and three others were killed in Beirut by an armed Israeli drone.
From the beginning, Turkey showed the strongest responses to such operations by Israel.
Firm Turkish responses
Turkish intelligence sources spoke to Anadolu Agency, saying:
The necessary warnings were given to the concerned parties;
Based on reports in the international press and statements by Israeli officials that Israel will target Hamas members living outside Palestine, including Turkey, and that any action to the contrary will have dire consequences.
The officials confirmed that various intelligence agencies had previously attempted to carry out illegal operations on Turkish territory, stressing that none of the operations of these agencies would be allowed.
Turkey's strongest and clearest reaction came from President Erdogan, who warned Israel: "If they make such a mistake, they will pay a very heavy price."
Operations against Mossad agents that began under Hakan Fidan, the former head of Turkish National Intelligence and now Foreign Minister, continued rapidly under the leadership of Ibrahim Kalin.
In January;
The Turkish National Intelligence Directorate responded with Operation “Kostabek/Necropolis” to the threats of the Prime Minister of Israel and the Israeli intelligence services.
This operation was the fourth major operation against the Israeli Mossad carried out by the Turkish National Intelligence Service since 2021. In October 2021;
“Operation Motini” was carried out involving 29 people. In December 2022, 68 agents were arrested in “Operation Neoblaz”, in April 2023, 17 agents were targeted in “Operation Nicbat”, and finally, 46 people were targeted. In Operation Costbeck/Necropolis.
The latest operation was a meaningful response to the Israeli Prime Minister - who threatens Turkey - and the Mossad, which threatened to carry out assassinations in Turkey.
In cooperation with the Public Security Directorate, Turkish National Intelligence carried out the operation against 46 people, and called it “Necropolis,” a term meaning “city of the dead” that was used in ancient times to refer to cemeteries.
The name "Coastbeck", given by the police, was used to describe the agents.
Thus began “Operation Kostbek/Necropolis” against 46 Mossad agents.
Turkish National Intelligence carried out operations against foreigners recruited as agents by the Mossad in 2021 and against private investigators and tactical personnel in 2022, applying measures against 97 people, 58 of whom were foreigners and 39 of whom were Turkish citizens.
In the first stage, 51 of them were arrested.
in addition to;
A network consisting of Selcuk Kuçukkaya and 16 people who regularly met with Israeli agents abroad and carried out tasks assigned to them by Israeli intelligence was dismantled in April 2023. Finally, an attempt by the Israeli intelligence service to kidnap Palestinian engineer Omar Al-Bilbisi in Malaysia was thwarted.
Revealing methods for recruiting clients
In January 2024, a new operation - coordinated by the Turkish National Intelligence Service and the Police Intelligence Directorate - revealed the working methods and working methods of the Israeli intelligence service's field agents.
Accordingly;
The Mossad uses people recruited in Turkey, whether local or foreign, as agents on a tactical basis, that is, as short-term agents who recruit elements for use in operations against Palestinians and their families residing in Turkey.
In this context, suitable people are encouraged to contact them by sharing job advertisements or unspecified links on social media sites or in chat groups by Israeli intelligence.
People who respond to these ads and links are presented with different tasks to prepare them for the final task.
After the first contact, the Israeli Intelligence Service continues to communicate with its sources through Telegram and WhatsApp applications and communicates with its sources only in writing.
As for payments to its sources, the intelligence service uses local intermediaries.
He tries to hide the trace of money using digital currencies and the bank transfer system.
The people Mossad uses as local intermediaries are also provided through advertisements it posts on social media;
People are convinced that these money transfers are related to illegal betting and gambling.
The Israeli intelligence service carries out its operations through these agents in stages to achieve its ultimate goal.
It does this by using these agents, for actions that include information gathering, research, photography and videography of targets, follow-up, installation of GPS devices on target vehicles, assault and injury, theft, arson, threats and extortion, in addition to creating websites, Designing electronic newspapers, publishing fake news, and other misleading acts.
in addition to;
Mossad engages in cyber activities that include collecting IP addresses of identified targets, hacking or infiltrating cameras in targeted areas, and generating data about foreigners residing in Turkey.
On the other hand;
It has been determined that Mossad meets with people it deems qualified abroad to avoid being targeted by Turkish intelligence and to ensure the safety of its agents.
The Israeli intelligence service makes the first contact with these people through social networking sites and job sites, using masks that suit their needs and interests.
The mask that is created to ensure that the person concerned does not feel betrayed and to achieve psychological comfort is supported by large payments.
Clients are hosted in luxury hotels during their trips abroad, invited to upscale restaurants and included in special tour and visit programmes. Clients recruited also undergo a lie detector test.
The Israeli intelligence service pays the sums in cash to the agents it meets abroad.
If the amount is large enough to cause problems at customs, it is delivered in specially designed bags with secret compartments;
These bags are designed to prevent problems during inspection with X-ray machines and searches by dogs.
Clients are trained to communicate confidentially during external meetings.
After this stage, business matters are carried out through the confidential communication system.
Trainings on follow-up, monitoring, documentation, reporting, and process safety are provided by a special team from Israel.
An ongoing battle
Key steps for potential business such as smuggling people and goods across the border from Iran and Iraq to Turkey, finding computer hackers, providing a safe house, and arranging an ambulance company to be used in operations are also prepared by these agents.
The National Intelligence Organization continues its uninterrupted battle against the operations and extensions of other intelligence agencies, and these details are just the beginning.
Indeed, on the 97th anniversary of the founding of the organization, the organization’s president, Ibrahim Kalin, explained this by saying: “The main reason behind the ‘unreliable ally’ allegations directed against Turkey is that Turkey, as a sovereign and independent country, moves resolutely to protect its rights and interests.”
Kalin stressed that self-sufficiency and deterrence are vital elements for protecting sovereignty and independence in an era of multidimensional threats and global fragility, noting that without these two elements, a country cannot pursue an independent policy and guarantee its sovereignty.
He added: "Deterrence means this; when someone throws a stone at you, he should know that he will receive a bullet in return and should think twice before picking up the stone. No betrayal or harm to the state and nation will be left unpunished."
Erdogan also spoke about the organization’s operation against the Mossad, in the same meeting, saying: “The operation surprised Israel. Wait, this is just the beginning. You have not gotten to know Turkey yet, but you are forced to get to know it,” adding: “Truly, Turkey’s friends know its strength, and its enemies will learn.” ..”.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Al Jazeera.