Israeli Defense minister Moshe Yaalon, left, and his Cypriot counterpart Fotis Fotiou shake hands during their statements to the media after their meeting at the Defense ministry in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016. Israelâs defense minister is accusing Iran of building an international terror network that includes âsleeper cellsâ stockpiling arms, intelligence and operatives that are ready to strike on command in places including Europe and the U.S. Yaalon says Iran aims to destabilize the Middle East and other parts of the world and is training, funding and arming âemissariesâ to spread revolution. He also says Tehran is the anchor of a âdangerous axisâ that includes Baghdad, Damascus, Beirut, Saana and other cities in the region. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
The Associated Press
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) - Israel's defense minister is accusing Iran of building an international terror network that includes "sleeper cells" that are stockpiling arms, intelligence and operatives to be ready to strike on command in places including Europe and the U.S.
Moshe Yaalon says Iran aims to destabilize the Middle East and other parts of the world and is training, funding and arming "emissaries" to spread a revolution. He says Tehran is the anchor of a "dangerous axis" that includes Baghdad, Damascus, Beirut, Sanaa and other cities in the region.
Israel considers Iran the biggest threat to the region, citing its support for anti-Israel militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.
Yaalon said after talks with his Cypriot counterpart Wednesday that the war in Syria has resulted in "widespread infiltration by murderous, merciless terror organizations."
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This story has been corrected to show the accurate spelling of the Yemeni capital is Sanaa, not Saana.
Israeli Defense minister Moshe Yaalon, left, and his Cypriot counterpart Fotis Fotiou give statements to the media after their meeting at the Defense ministry in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016. Israelâs defense minister is accusing Iran of building an international terror network that includes âsleeper cellsâ stockpiling arms, intelligence and operatives that are ready to strike on command in places including Europe and the U.S. Yaalon says Iran aims to destabilize the Middle East and other parts of the world and is training, funding and arming âemissariesâ to spread revolution. He also says Tehran is the anchor of a âdangerous axisâ that includes Baghdad, Damascus, Beirut, Saana and other cities in the region. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
The Associated Press