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Mossad Chief: Iran ‘Definitely’ Behind Oil Tanker Attacks in Gulf of Oman

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The head of Israel’s storied Mossad intelligence agency claimed on Monday that Iran was “definitely” behind last month’s attacks of two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman.

Delivering remarks at the 19th annual Herzliya Conference, Yossi Cohen said that the Mossad attained credible information from several sources with direct knowledge of the attacks.

“The debate over who is responsible for the (Gulf of Oman) attack is vital,” Cohen said, “and I can tell you with certainty, from the best sources of Israeli and Western espionage, that Iran is definitely behind these attacks.”

“Through these attacks, Iran is trying to tell the world it is not afraid of an escalation, and that if sanctions are not removed or eased it will cause serious harm to the global oil market,” he added.

On June 13, the US Navy confirmed that it received distress calls from two oil tankers reportedly under attack in the Gulf of Oman, with reports that the vessels were struck by “torpedoes” or naval mines.

Iran has vehemently denied any involvement in the incident.

The comments made by Cohen, 57, are the first time the Mossad has publicly accused Iran for the oil tanker attacks, according to The Times of Israel.

Cohen also gave examples of other terror-related activities allegedly spearheaded by Iran, including the transfer of huge sums of money and logistical support to Islamist extremist organizations based in Lebanon and Gaza.

“Iran is the main sponsor of terrorist organizations in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. Israeli intelligence sources say that in the past two years, Iran has transferred more than $100 million to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, most of which were dedicated to military buildup in both organizations,” said Cohen.

Cohen added: “We can’t agree to Syria becoming a logistics base for transferring weapons to Hezbollah and Lebanon. Israel has taken action in the past four years, overtly and covertly, about which only a small amount has been published, in order to block the entrenchment and the production lines of precision-guided munitions.”

Switching to Syria, the spy chief noted that the “overt and covert actions Israel has taken over the past four years” has limited Tehran’s military entrenchment in Syrian territory, with Cohen predicting that continued Israeli pressure will eventually lead Iran to give up its efforts in the country.

Cohen’s comments came just hours after Israel reportedly struck several targets across Syria, including the capital of Damascus and the central city of Homs, killing 15 people.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor reported that at least six civilians were among the dead, including an infant. The other nine people were said to have been mostly pro-Iranian foreign militants.

            (i24 News)

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