President Javier Milei has ordered increased protection for “sensitive sites” across Argentina, including areas related to the Jewish community, as a result of the military escalation in the Middle East.
The United States and Israel on Saturday conducted air strikes across Iran, with Israel's public broadcaster saying Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among the targets.
Tehran responded with missile launches against Israel and Gulf countries hosting US bases, sparking fears of a conflagration in the Middle East.
In a statement issued midday Saturday, Milei – a close ally of Israel and the United States – said he ordered the ramping up of security precautions across the country.
“The measure applies to all sensitive sites in the country, as well as critical infrastructure and the Jewish community, among others, with the aim of guaranteeing the integrity, life and freedom of those living in the national territory,” said the President in a statement.
“Protective and security measures for the aforementioned sites will be strengthened as a preventive step, including reinforced protection of foreign diplomatic missions,” he added.
Milei said that intelligence agents would “permanently monitor developments, in cooperation with international agencies, in order to ensure the immediate detection of possible risks or threats to national security.”
Border controls have also been increased, with alert protocols activated. Information will be coordinated between the SIDE state intelligence agency, the National Security Ministry, National Directorate for Migration and the Federal Security Forces, said Milei.
Argentina suffered two devastating terrorist attacks in the 1990s, both in Buenos Aires and both targeting Jewish-linked institutions.
On March 17, 1992, a suicide car bomb destroyed the Israeli Embassy, killing 29 people and injuring more than 200.
Two years later, on July 18, 1994, a van packed with explosives detonated outside the AMIA Jewish community centre, killing 85 people and wounding over 300 in the deadliest attack in the country’s history.
Investigations by Argentine authorities and prosecutors later attributed both attacks to Hezbollah, allegedly backed by Iran. Decades on, neither case has resulted in definitive convictions.
Argentina is home to the largest Jewish community in Latin America, around 250,000 people. An estimated 60,000 Argentines live in Israel.
“The National Government reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the defence of life, freedom and constitutional order, and will continue adopting all necessary measures to safeguard the security of Argentines amid a scenario of heightened international tension,” concluded Milei in his statement.
– TIMES/NA
Comments