Israeli security officials are working to determine who was responsible for Sunday’s massacre at a Jewish event in Sydney, Australia, amid mounting suspicion that the attack was orchestrated by a state-backed actor.

Iran is viewed as the leading suspect, though investigators are also examining possible links to other terrorist organizations, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has ties to al-Qaeda.

As the investigation progresses, Israeli security officials say their assessment that Iran is behind the attack has strengthened.

In recent months, Israel has warned that Iran was preparing to strike Jewish and Israeli targets abroad. Intelligence reports indicate that Tehran has been smuggling weapons and establishing “incitement cells” across social media platforms to foment further attacks.

A senior Israeli intelligence source told Yisrael Hayom, “There is no doubt that the direction and infrastructure for the attack originated in Tehran.”

The source added, “In recent months, there has been a significant increase in activity by Iran and its proxies—Hezbollah and Hamas—aimed at carrying out attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide.

“This included Australia, where, following specific intelligence warnings, the government took partial measures against the Iranian Embassy, including the expulsion of the Iranian ambassador.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)