Israeli man built bomb lab for Iranian plot targeting ex-PM Bennett, authorities say

Israeli authorities arrested a 22-year-old Haifa nonmigratory for his engagement successful an Iranian-backed crippled to assassinate a high-ranking Israeli official, with the intended people believed to beryllium erstwhile Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, reports say.

Ami Gaydarov, 22, was arrested past period connected suspicion that helium was moving with an Iranian cause to stitchery quality and physique a weaponry for usage successful a panic crippled against a high-ranking Israeli official. Gaydarov was unaware of the target's identity. A gag bid connected his apprehension was precocious lifted, allowing Israeli media outlets to study connected the case.

Authorities said Gaydarov archetypal made interaction with his Iranian handler successful August 2025 and was paid astir $23,000 — astir of it successful cryptocurrency — to transportation retired tasks successful mentation for the assassination plot.

Gaydarov allegedly rented an flat successful the city's downtown country to service arsenic a laboratory for the bombs.

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Ami Gaydarov was arrested connected March 9 by Israeli authorities connected suspicion of moving with Iranian handlers to harm a high-ranking official. (Israeli Police)

"To facilitate the contacts with his handlers, Gaidarov purchased dedicated phones and rented an flat successful Haifa wherever helium produced the explosive substance, portion documenting his activities successful videos and photos that were sent to his handler arsenic impervious of compliance," the Israeli constabulary unit said.

In transportation with the plot, Israeli authorities person besides arrested 3 different suspects, including Sergey Leibman and Edward Shovtiuk. The 4th fishy has not been named. Authorities said indictments for the 4 suspects should hap successful the "coming days."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance astatine the Prime Minister's Office connected October 22, 2025 successful Jerusalem, Israel. (Nathan Howard/Pool/Getty Images)

The panic crippled was uncovered arsenic portion of Israel's "Operation Roaring Lion," a large subject run launched against Iran connected February 28, coinciding with the commencement of the warfare with Iran.

The apprehension of the 4 men comes arsenic Israeli authorities person won much than 40 indictments against much than 60 defendants moving connected behalf of the Iranian government. Just 2 months ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered that the citizenship of Israelis convicted of espionage for Iran beryllium stripped of their citizenship.

Illustration shows a rocket motorboat from Iran with the country's emblem successful the background. (iStock)

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Since the outbreak of the warfare with Iran, pro-Iranian attacks linked to extremist groups person been connected the rise. Just past week, French officials reported that a pro-Iran radical was down a failed weaponry crippled connected a Bank of America bureau successful Paris.