The Israeli government has stated it will "not be intimidated" following an apparent failed attack on its consulate in Istanbul. Turkish authorities reported that a gunfight outside the consulate in the Levent district, where armed individuals attempted to reach the seventh floor of the building, resulted in one attacker dead and two others detained with injuries. Two police officers sustained minor injuries during the incident.

Turkish officials described the event as a "provocation" and said the motive remains under investigation. The Interior Ministry claimed the deceased individual "had connections with a terrorist group that exploits religion." The detained assailants were identified as brothers Onur C. and Enes C., with the former having a criminal record related to drugs. While the specific group involved was not named, past attacks in Turkey have been linked to the Islamic State militant group.

Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci revealed that the attackers had traveled from the northwestern province of Kocaeli by rental car, and prosecutors in Istanbul have opened an investigation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to fight "all kinds of terrorism" and condemned the "treacherous attack." A spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the consulate was unstaffed at the time, as Israel withdrew diplomats after the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attack and the subsequent Gaza war.

In a post on X, the Israeli ministry condemned what it called a terrorist attack and praised the swift response of Turkish security forces. The US Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, also lauded Turkey and its security forces for "their swift and decisive response." This incident occurs against a backdrop of strained diplomatic relations between Turkey and Israel, highlighting ongoing regional security challenges and the persistent threat of terrorism in the area.

Source: www.dw.com