Turkish authorities have successfully dismantled a sophisticated Israeli intelligence cell operating within its borders, according to security sources speaking to Middle East Eye. The operation, codenamed ‘Monitum’ (Latin for ‘warning’), resulted in the apprehension of two individuals who had been missing for three weeks.
The investigation reveals the spy network had been active since 2012, establishing multiple shell companies to surveil Palestinian targets and infiltrate supply chains. The cell allegedly attempted to export drone components and planned to create additional front companies outside Turkey to facilitate intelligence operations.
At the center of the operation was a Turkish citizen identified as MBD, who was recruited by Israeli intelligence officers posing as business executives during a 2012 meeting in Europe. MBD subsequently hired VK, a Turkish citizen of Palestinian origin who was already collaborating with Israeli intelligence. Together, they expanded commercial activities across the Middle East while gathering intelligence on Palestinians with anti-Israeli views.
The operation bears striking resemblance to Israel’s 2024 pager attack on Hezbollah, which exploited commercial supply chains to distribute compromised communication devices. In that incident, Israeli intelligence established a fake company mimicking Taiwan’s Gold Apollo to supply rigged pagers that subsequently detonated, causing significant casualties.
Turkish security sources indicate the recently busted cell employed similar methodologies, including creating虚假 websites, online stores, and forum discussions to deceive targets. The operatives used encrypted communication systems while simultaneously purchasing SIM cards and internet devices from multiple countries to maintain operational security.
The investigation further revealed that MBD underwent polygraph tests in 2016 and again in August 2024, successfully advancing to higher operational levels within the intelligence network. The cell’s activities included attempting to visit Gaza to photograph warehouses and scouting locations for their operations.
Notably, one of the individuals targeted by MBD and VK for drone sales, Mohamed Zouari, was assassinated by Israeli intelligence in Tunisia in December 2016, demonstrating the potentially lethal consequences of such espionage operations.