Officials announced Thursday that an Israeli businessman was secretly brought into Iran to carry out a scheme aiming at the assassination of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli figures. This development comes amidst escalating tensions following recent attacks that resulted in significant casualties among Hezbollah members and civilians in Lebanon.

Law enforcement and intelligence agencies indicated that the assassination attempt was partly driven by the desire for revenge following the July death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. His demise was alleged to have been caused by a bombing at his residence in Tehran, which Israel is believed to have orchestrated.

In a collaborative statement from Israel’s national police and Shin Bet, the suspect was described as “a businessman who had spent considerable time in Turkey and maintained business and personal connections with individuals in Turkey and Iran.”

The individual was covertly brought into Iran on two occasions from Turkey to engage with Iranian intelligence, as per the statement from Israeli officials. He sought an upfront payment of $1 million for his role in targeting Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, but was arrested last month after only receiving 5,000 Euros for his efforts.

The suspect was formally charged on Thursday with “serious security” offenses, coinciding with Israel’s airstrikes on southern Lebanon, which followed the deadly explosions linked to Hezbollah’s communication devices over the past two days.

The blasts, which affected Hezbollah’s communication infrastructure, resulted in 37 deaths and around 3,000 injuries, escalating concerns of a possible widespread conflict. The situation led to a chaotic environment in Lebanon, with many residents quickly discarding their mobile phones in fear.

During his televised remarks on Thursday, Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, declared that Israel would face “just punishment” and asserted that peace would elude Israel’s northern border until the ongoing 11-month conflict in Gaza concluded. As he spoke, Israeli fighter jets were seen flying over Beirut.

Hezbollah, located in southern Lebanon, is regarded as Iran’s closest ally in the region.

According to the details of the alleged assassination conspiracy disclosed on Thursday, the suspect was tasked with conducting surveillance, managing logistics, and executing intimidation strategies for Iranian authorities. His responsibilities included the transfer of money and weapons to designated drop points, gathering photographs of crowded locations in Israel to share with Iranian operatives, and threatening other Israelis who were perceived to be working with the Iranian regime and had not completed their designated duties.

Contributing: Reuters