Australia has formally accused the Iranian regime of orchestrating two antisemitic arson attacks on its soil — one targeting a kosher restaurant in Sydney’s Bondi neighborhood, the other hitting the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne.
According to ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organisation), the plots were linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which reportedly worked through local criminal networks to avoid direct attribution.
In a rare and forceful move, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the expulsion of Iran’s ambassador and three senior diplomats. They’ve been given seven days to pack up and leave. It’s the first time since World War II that Australia has taken such action.
Canberra is also shutting down operations at its embassy in Tehran and moving to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization — a long-overdue step in the eyes of many security analysts.
Though the arson attacks caused no injuries, the damage was significant and the message was chilling. The December 2024 synagogue fire was officially labeled a terrorist act.
These attacks come amid a spike in antisemitic incidents across the country — arson, bomb threats, vandalism, and racist graffiti — much of it stirred up by tensions tied to the Israel–Gaza war.
ASIO’s findings reveal that Iran used “cut-outs,” including local criminals who may have been paid in cryptocurrency, to carry out the operations. This tactic — using proxies to mask state involvement — is a classic play in Iran’s foreign interference playbook.
The Jewish community, civic groups, and politicians across the spectrum swiftly condemned the attacks. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry called them assaults on Australian sovereignty. Prime Minister Albanese condemned them as dangerous acts aimed at dividing society.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Accusation | Iran (via IRGC) directed antisemitic arson attacks in Sydney and Melbourne |
| Targets | A kosher restaurant and a synagogue |
| Response Measures | Expelled Iranian diplomatic staff; suspended embassy; IRGC designation as terrorist group |
| Method | Use of criminal networks and financial intermediaries as proxies |
| Significance | Landmark diplomatic rupture signaling serious foreign-state repression on domestic soil |
Tuesday’s development marks a sharp escalation in Australia–Iran relations, intertwining domestic extremism, foreign interference, and religiously motivated violence. With decisive reprisals, Australia has delivered a clear message: state-sponsored hate crimes targeting religious communities will not go unanswered.
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Lately I have been worried that Australia was leaning the other way.