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Argentina Busts Terror Cell Plotting Attacks on Jewish Community
Illustrative. The aftermath of the bombing of the AMIA building in Buenos Aires on July 18, 1994. Photo: File.
JNS.org – Argentine police have dismantled an “Islamist terrorist organization” planning attacks on the Jewish community in the city of Mendoza, the country’s National Security Ministry announced on Friday.
Seven members of the cell were arrested during raids against their homes that resulted in the seizure of firearms, knives and electronic devices, according to the ministry.
The cell had been disseminating attack plans along with content from terror groups such as Islamic State and the Taliban, added the ministry.
Argentine Security Minister Patricia Bullrich said the cell was uncovered after one of the members threatened a Jewish journalist from the local community.
“We are going to get rid of each and every one of these criminals who intend to sow fear in Argentines and they will pay,” Bullrich posted to social media.
7 TERRORISTAS ¡AFUERA!
Planeaban atentados en Mendoza. En 8 allanamientos la PFA desmanteló una peligrosa organización vinculada a un grupo terrorista radical islámico, identificado tras amenazar a un periodista de la comunidad judía. Esta organización usaba las redes para… pic.twitter.com/f0NMhBxwGA
— Patricia Bullrich (@PatoBullrich) August 16, 2024
In January, Argentine police arrested two Syrian and one Lebanese man for plotting to carry out a terrorist attack. The three men, who had arrived separately in the country, were apprehended in Buenos Aires and in the adjacent suburb of Avellaneda.
A 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires blamed on Hezbollah killed 85 people and wounded more than 300 others. Last year, an Argentine federal judge called on Interpol to arrest four Lebanese men believed to be connected to the bombing.
An earlier attack on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires in 1992 also attributed to Iranian-backed Hezbollah killed 29 people and wounded 242 others.
In July, Argentina designated Hamas an “international terrorist organization” following the Palestinian group’s Oct. 7 massacre of 1,200 Israelis.
“The Hamas group has been declared by the Argentine state as an international terrorist organization,” President Javier Milei said, citing “an extensive record of terrorist attacks on their behalf.”
Buenos Aires “has an unwavering commitment to recognize terrorists for what they are,” read the statement by Argentina’s President Javier Milei’s office, adding that “it’s the first time that there is a political will to do so. “Argentina must once again align itself with Western civilization,” the statement continued.
In February, Milei made a wartime visit to Israel, signaling a major shift in Argentina’s foreign policy toward the United States and Israel after decades of backing Arab countries.
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Putin Speaks to Trump, Condemns Israel’s Strikes on Iran, Kremlin Says
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian meet in Moscow, Russia, Jan. 17, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to US President Donald Trump for 50 minutes on Saturday, condemning the Israeli military operation against Iran and expressing concern about the risks of escalation, the Kremlin said.
“Vladimir Putin condemned Israel’s military operation against Iran and expressed serious concern about a possible escalation of the conflict, which would have unpredictable consequences for the entire situation in the Middle East,” Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.
Trump, for his part, described events in the Middle East as “very alarming,” according to Ushakov. But the two leaders said they do not rule out a return to the negotiating track on Iran’s nuclear program, Ushakov said.
On Ukraine, Putin told the US leader that Russia was ready to continue negotiations with the Ukrainians after June 22, according to state news agency RIA.
Trump reiterated his interest in a speedy resolution to the conflict, the Kremlin aide said.
Putin also congratulated Trump on his 79th birthday.
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Sunday’s US-Iran Nuclear Talks Cancelled, Oman Says
FILE PHOTO: Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi attends a meeting with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia July 11, 2023. Photo: Natalia Kolesnikova/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
The latest round of US-Iran nuclear talks scheduled for Sunday in Muscat will not take place, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said on X on Saturday. Oman has been mediating the talks.
Albusaidi’s statement came a day after Israel launched a sweeping air offensive against Iran, killing commanders and scientists and bombing nuclear sites in a stated bid to stop it building an atomic weapon.
A senior official of US President Donald Trump’s administration, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed Sunday’s talks had been cancelled.
Washington, however, remained committed to the negotiations and hoped “the Iranians will come to the table soon,” the official said.
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Iran Says Talks with US ‘Meaningless’ After Israel Attack, But Yet to Decide on Attending
USA and Iranian flags are seen in this illustration taken, Sept. 8, 2022. Photo: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
Iran said the dialogue with the US over Tehran’s nuclear program is “meaningless” after Israel’s biggest-ever military strike against its longstanding enemy, but said it is yet to decide on whether to attend planned talks on Sunday.
“The other side (the US) acted in a way that makes dialogue meaningless. You cannot claim to negotiate and at the same time divide work by allowing the Zionist regime (Israel) to target Iran’s territory,” state media on Saturday quoted foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei as saying.
“It is still unclear what decision we will make on Sunday in this regard,” Baghaei was quoted as saying.
He said Israel “succeeded in influencing” the diplomatic process and the Israeli attack would not have happened without Washington’s permission, accusing Washington of supporting the attack.
Iran earlier accused the US of being complicit in Israel’s attacks, but Washington denied the allegation and told Tehran at the United Nations Security Council that it would be “wise” to negotiate over its nuclear program.
The sixth round of US-Iran nuclear talks was set to be held on Sunday in Muscat, but it was unclear whether it would go ahead after the Israeli strikes.
Iran denies that its uranium enrichment program is for anything other than civilian purposes, rejecting Israeli allegations that it is secretly developing nuclear weapons.
US President Donald Trump told Reuters that he and his team had known the Israeli attacks were coming but they still saw room for an accord.
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