Israeli envoy assasination plot foiled

Azerbaijani authorities thwarted an Iranian attempt to assassinate Israeli ambassador Baku Michael Lotem and other Israeli targets. Yediot Ahronot reported that local media outlets in Azerbaijan said three locals who were arrested last week were paid by Iranian intelligence to kill the ambassador in Baku, as well as a teacher and a rabbi from Chabad school. Two of the suspects were identified as Rasim Aliyev and Ali Huseynov. According to reports, they received instructions from Balagardash Dadashov, who was in contact with Iranian intelligence and received a sniper rifle, pistols and explosive devices to attack Chabad emissaries operating in Baku, reported Yediot. Yediot stated that the “would-be assassins were supposed to receive $150,000 to carry out the hit on the Israeli ambassador.” The Israeli paper noted that the local report was published less than three weeks before the fourth anniversary of the assassination of senior Hezbollah commander Imad Mughniyeh.