The General Command of the Internal Security Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced on Sunday the dismantling of a network linked to enemy intelligence agencies and the arrest of 50 people in coordinated security operations spanning 16 provinces across the country.

In a statement published by the Fars News Agency, the General Command reported that the operation followed security monitoring and surveillance, resulting in a significant blow to an organized network working for enemy intelligence agencies.

The statement added that the agents were collaborating with the Zionist and American enemies, collecting and transmitting information and coordinates related to sensitive locations, including service facilities and infrastructure, checkpoints, and security force deployment sites, in addition to identifying fixed and mobile locations used for military purposes.

The statement indicated that specialized electronic equipment and communication devices, including equipment connected to satellite communication networks, were seized during the operations, along with weapons and ammunition.

Israeli forces attack Christian worshipers during Holy Saturday in occupied al-Quds – PressTV [2026-04-12]

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During the assault, the occupation forces pushed people, beat several individuals, and detained a number of participants.

Israeli police had already set up checkpoints and inspected IDs of those attending the religious ceremony.

They had also deployed barriers and iron barricades across key routes leading to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of al-Quds.

The restrictions came one day after the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in al-Quds called on Christians to attend Holy Saturday rituals following a 40-day closure of the church amid the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the assault on Christian worshipers as a direct attack on freedom of worship, saying it reflects a systematic policy targeting the Palestinian Christian presence in occupied al-Quds.

It also noted that blocking access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre violates international law and the long-standing status quo.

Meanwhile, Ramzi Khoury, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee and head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, strongly denounced the Israeli attack.

Israeli forces, he added, deliberately intimidated the crowds to impose a coercive reality and prevent native Palestinians from practicing their religious rituals in violation of international law.

Similarly, the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Israeli police actions and rejected the illegal and restrictive measures against Palestinian Christians.

In a statement, the ministry further called for an immediate halt to all measures that hinder Muslims and Christians from practicing their religious rituals.

Additionally, it urged respect for the historical and legal status quo in al-Quds’ holy sites and called on the international community to pressure the Israeli regime to stop violations against Islamic and Christian sacred places.

[2026-04-12] @cgtnafrica: A meeting of Israel's mini Security Council has been called for today following the failure of negotiations: report.