On Wednesday the IDF revealed that their elite intelligence unit 8200 has successfully thwarted numerous terror attacks on targets around the western world that were being planned by ISIS. The unit prevented an attack on a Etihad Airlines flight from Sydney, Australia to Abu Dhabi in the UAE. The details of the prevented attack were publicized in Australia last year but it was not then revealed which intelligence agency prevented the attack.

According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit: “Unit 8200 provided exclusive intelligence information to Australia that prevented the ISIS attack that would have resulted in the destruction of the plane. Partnering with the Israeli intelligence community allowed the transfer of the secret information to the local and national defense authorities in Australia who succeeded in preventing the attack. The elements in play were in the final stages of preparations needed to carry out their attack. The prevention of the attack saved dozens of innocent lives and emphasized the important role that the 8200 unit plays in the fight against ISIS.”

The incident took place in July 2017, and two Australian men were found guilty of attempting to blow up the the plane after they would hve poisoned the passengers on board. According to reports that were issued at the time, a ISIS commander in Syria had sent them parts needed to create the explosion, including explosives, via a freight shipment from Turkey.

Australian authorities at the time said that the plot was one of the most thought out and developed that had ever been planned against an Australian target. The pair of ISIS sympathizers had built an explosive device and put it in the luggage of one of their brother’s who was supposed to board the plane. The brother had no idea what was happening and was apprehended with the explosive prior to boarding.

The pair of sympathizers then attempted to build a device that would deploy poison gas in a public space but were unable to complete their task.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke this evening about the unit’s effectiveness after the incident was revealed. “Israel’s intelligence agencies prevent this attack on an Australian plane that would have caused a massive amount of death and been a dark spot on the airline industry worldwide. This was just one of the many terror attacks that were prevented around the world by our intelligence divisions. Kol Hakavod to the Israeli intelligence system that not only protects Israeli citizens, but protects citizens of other countries around the world.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)