Foxtrot, a notorious criminal organization based in Sweden, is under fire from both Swedish and Israeli agencies. They allege that Foxtrot was hired by Iran to orchestrate terror attacks. This accusation surfaces at a time when Sweden’s relationships are already on thin ice due to its alliances in global conflicts. Sweden has sided with the U.S. against Russia in the Ukraine war, and during the Israel-Hamas conflict, it has called for humanitarian corridors in Gaza, which hasn’t exactly thrilled Israel.
Several European nations, including Spain, Norway, and Ireland, are now leaning towards supporting a two-state solution for Palestine, much to Israel’s chagrin. Sweden, in fact, was the pioneer in 2014 by recognizing Palestine, souring its ties with Israel. In a bid to thaw these frosty relations, Eli Cohen, the Israeli foreign minister, made a trip to Sweden in 2024, hoping to drum up some support for Israel, for Israel’s effort against Hamas.
Mossad recent report attempts to paint a picture of growing chaos in Iran following the death of President Raisi. It aims to depict Iran as a destabilizing force in Europe, likely to rally European countries behind Israel’s stance on Gaza.
Mossad, Israel’s agency, decided to spill some serious beans on Tuesday. They have pointed the finger at Iran, accusing it of bankrolling and steering terror networks across Europe, with a particular focus on Israel’s embassies. The report shines a spotlight on two nefarious gangs: Foxtrot and Rumbia.
Now, Foxtrot is a major player in Sweden’s drug scene, hell-bent on becoming the country’s top dealer. This gang doesn’t just dabble in drugs; it has a rap sheet filled with shootings, assaults, and other violent mischief. Leading this mixed crew is Rawa Majid, better known by his catchy moniker, “The Kurdish Fox.” With dual citizenship in Sweden and Turkey, Majid has made a name for himself.
The intrigue began last January with a grenade attack on the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm, which set the Mossad’s investigation into motion. Israeli officials are pointing the blame squarely at Foxtrot. Mossad claims that Majid, the Kurdish Fox himself, was roped in by Tehran to launch terror attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets across Europe. This all happened after Majid scurried off to Turkey in September, dodging an INTERPOL warrant.
The relationship between Iran and Sweden, never exactly a fairy tale, has been on a steep decline, especially since 2019. The two countries, which established formal relations back in 1929, have watched their diplomatic ties unravel thanks to a series of thorny issues. In 2021, things took a spiral when Sweden convicted Hamid Noury, a former Iranian official, for war crimes tied to the Iran-Iraq War and the notorious 1988 executions. Then in 2023, the situation got even worse when Iran executed Habib Chaab, a Swedish-Iranian dual citizen accused of masterminding a deadly attack in 2018. Sweden condemned the execution, and relations soured even more.
But the drama didn’t stop there. In the same year, Sweden’s intelligence agency dropped a bombshell, accusing Iran of using criminal networks in Sweden to target Israel, a claim Iran, of course, flatly denied. To add fuel to the fire, Iran refused to accept a new Swedish ambassador, furious over Quran burnings in Sweden. The diplomatic vibe between Iran and Sweden is not exactly warm and fuzzy.
Swedish intelligence has backed Mossad’s findings, confirming that Iran has been dabbling in illicit operations in Sweden for years. Foxtrot, engaged in drug trafficking, and non-political bombings, has been a major player in these shady dealings.
Rumbia, another rival gang led by Ismail Abdo, was implicated in a shooting at the Stockholm embassy on May 17. The Swedish police even nabbed a 14-year-old suspect who reportedly admitted that the Israeli embassy was his target.
Mossad’s director, David Barnea, announced in September that Mossad in coordination with its foreign allies, thwarted 27 Iranian plots to target Israelis. These attempts spanned several European nations, adding to the already tangled web of international relations.
Mossad’s report seems designed to portray Iran as a major threat, aiming to rally European nations against Tehran. With all these accusations and counter-accusations flying around, it’s clear that the diplomatic dance between Iran, Sweden, and Israel is anything but a waltz.