A fresh terrorist organization with alleged ties to the Iranian government surfaced in Europe last week. The group, known as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya (The Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right), has taken credit for four separate strikes against Jewish sites throughout the region.
The wave of violence began Monday with an explosion at a synagogue in Liège, Belgium. This was followed by a Friday night arson attack at a synagogue in Rotterdam and the detonation of an explosive at an Amsterdam Jewish school on Saturday evening.
Various reports have also connected the organization to a Wednesday incident at a Jewish location in Greece, although details regarding the specific target or the nature of the attack remain undisclosed.
Joe Truzman, a senior research analyst with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and editor of the FDD’s Long War Journal, remarked to Digital that the group’s initial statement after the Monday attack seemed “somewhat amateurish.” However, Truzman noted that as the group began releasing videos, he “recognized that there is likely more substance to this organization.”
He suggested that the conflict involving Iran has probably “driven the group, or those backing it, to initiate these strikes.” Truzman stated he “believes this organization is being managed” and that “a larger entity is behind it.”
Truzman pointed to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a potential culprit, noting its “history of activity in Europe” and “attempts to target or kill dissidents.” He also mentioned the possibility that the group could be an offshoot of an Iraqi militia.
Beyond expecting more strikes from Ashab al-Yamin, Truzman expressed worry that “the online spread of [terrorist] footage could incite others to carry out antisemitic acts” in Europe. He observed that the group’s videos are “gaining momentum and views,” warning that individuals who are already radicalized or susceptible to radicalization might be swayed by the content to target Jewish sites.
While the incidents have been “largely unrefined” thus far, he cautioned that the group might evolve to target individuals during busy daylight hours. To date, all the attacks have occurred under the cover of night.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on X that the organization is linked to the Tehran regime, identifying it as “a jihadi group connected to an Iranian proxy.” The ministry added that “the IRGC persists in funding and spreading terrorism worldwide.”
Observers are more frequently linking these events to the conflict in Iran. The World Jewish Congress issued a warning on X, noting that “security experts suspect the group is a component of Iran’s growing proxy network functioning outside the Middle East.” The organization urged world leaders to “address this threat seriously, break up the networks responsible, and protect the safety of Jewish communities.”
Amichai Chikli, Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs, described the strikes as “part of a concerning trend,” explaining that “terrorist networks associated with the Iranian axis are attempting to broaden their operations into European urban centers and Jewish neighborhoods.”
While the State Department did not comment on whether it was monitoring Ashab al-Yamin or if it would advise Americans to avoid Jewish sites abroad, the U.S. embassy in the Netherlands issued a Monday alert. It advised U.S. citizens to “practice strong personal security and remain highly vigilant” following the recent explosions in the Netherlands and other European cities, in line with the State Department’s “Worldwide Caution alert.”
The embassy’s notice further stated that, as mentioned in the Netherlands Travel Advisory, terrorist organizations are still planning potential strikes in the country. It warned that attacks could occur without notice, targeting sites such as tourist attractions, transit centers, shopping areas, government buildings, hotels, places of worship, and schools.
Recently, Israel’s National Security Council advised citizens abroad to hide any identifiers of their Israeli or Jewish identity and to “refrain from visiting Jewish or Israeli locations,” a warning issued after the first of three shootings at synagogues in Toronto in early March.