Photo: JOHN THYS / AFP / Getty Images
A new terrorist group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya, has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on Jewish institutions across Europe last week. The group, suspected of having ties to the Iranian regime, targeted sites in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Greece.
The attacks began with an explosion at a synagogue in Liège, Belgium, on Monday (March 9). This was followed by an arson attack on a synagogue in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on Friday, and an explosive device set off at a Jewish school in Amsterdam the next evening. An additional attack occurred at a Jewish site in Greece, though details remain sparse.
The group, whose name translates to "The Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right," emerged suddenly and does not have its own social media channels. However, videos of the attacks quickly appeared on Shi’ite axis Telegram channels, suggesting a possible link to Iranian proxy organizations. The group's logo, featuring a Dragunov rifle, resembles those of other Iranian-led groups.
The World Jewish Congress and Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs have raised alarms about the group's activities, urging governments to take the threat seriously. Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Minister, Amichai Chikli, called the attacks "part of a troubling pattern" of Iranian-linked terror networks expanding into Europe.
The U.S. embassy in the Netherlands issued a warning to American citizens to exercise caution and maintain heightened situational awareness following the attacks. The State Department has not commented on whether it was previously tracking the group.
As tensions with Iran continue, concerns grow over the potential for further attacks. Authorities and Jewish communities across Europe remain on high alert.