ATHENS – The killing of Hamas terrorist political leader by Israel, in response to his directing October, 2023 raids that killed more than 1200 people, now has Greece on alert that there could be retaliation against targets of Israeli interests.

The National Intelligence Service (EYP) and counterterrorism authorities went into high alert after receiving information from unnamed foreign security agencies that Hamas could try to strike in Greece, said Kathimerini.

Haniyeh was killed in Iran’s capital Tehran after attending the inauguration of the country’s new President and Hezbollah terrorist commander Fuad Shukr was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon’s capital Beirut.

Iran and Lebanon have blamed Israel and there is anxiety of return strikes against Israel or Israeli interests in other countries, and with Greece’s military cooperation with the United States adding to the worry of a hit, the US being Israel’s biggest ally.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hamas-leader-ismail-haniyeh-assassinated-tehran-iran-says/

EYP reportedly has an open line of communication with foreign intelligence and  cooperating with Cyprus, where Iran has also tried to carry out a terrorist attack – with the most recent case recorded in December 2023.

“The level of vigilance has increased,” an official at the Ministry of Citizen Protection confirmed to Kathimerini, while unidentified EYP officials acknowledged receiving tips that a target linked to Israel could be struck in Greece.

But, citing sources not named, the paper said there is no indication that an incident is imminent, just that there is wariness given the growing tension in the Mideast and worries that Hamas and Hezbollah – which fires rockets into Israel, the latest killing children and teens at a soccer field – will retaliate and escalate the crisis.

Greece’s security is also said to be especially cautious in checking whether foreigners aligned with the terrorist groups might try to use the country to get to another country to make a hit or terrorist attack.

Plans and attempted attacks against targets of Israeli interest in Athens were recorded twice in 2023-24, the first in March 2023 wen the counterterror department in collaboration with the EYP and Israel’s Mossad arrested two people – Pakistani nationals – accused of planning to attack the synagogue in Monastiraki.

That operation was allegedly coordinated by Iran and Israel issued an arrest warrant for a Pakistani national who was on Iranian soil. The second case was recorded in May and June 2024 with low-intensity arson attacks against an Israeli hotel in Monastiraki, but also the synagogue in the same area.