ATHENS

Greek security authorities have been put on alert against possible attacks on Israeli targets in the country, following the assassination of the Hamas leader in Iran’s capital Tehran and the killing of a Hezbollah commander in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut, Lebanon. 

Security authorities, including National Intelligence Service (EYP) and counterterrorism units, have been placed on heightened alert following a warning from foreign security services about a “possible attempt to hit a target of Israeli interest in Greece,” the daily Kathimerini reported.

Speaking to the daily, an official at the Citizen Protection Ministry said: “The level of vigilance has increased.”

“The assessments of Greek and foreign officials converge on the possibility that in the near future there will be an attempt to retaliate with an attack against an Israeli target, not on the territory of Israel, but in a third country,” according to the daily.

“There is also concern about the possibility of foreign nationals attempting to transit Greece with the aim of carrying out an attack in another country,” it added.

However, the daily reported that there is currently no clear information about an attack against a specific target or on a specific date.

Tensions in the region have escalated after Hamas political chief Haniyeh was assassinated on Wednesday in the Iranian capital, Tehran. While Hamas and Iran blamed Israel for the killing, Tel Aviv has not confirmed or denied its involvement.

The assassination came a day after Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut's southern suburb.

Fears have grown about a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah amid an exchange of cross-border attacks between the two sides.

The escalation came against the backdrop of a deadly Israeli onslaught on Gaza which has killed nearly 39,500 people since last October following an attack by Hamas.