Pro-Iran Group Claims Attacks on Jewish and US Interests in Europe

A pro-Iranian group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks targeting Jewish communities and American interests across Europe. However, counterterrorism analysts suggest the organization may be a facade rather than a genuine independent entity.

The group, whose name translates from Arabic as The Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right(eous), has claimed several incidents through social media accounts linked to pro-Iranian militias. These include an arson attack on Jewish community-run ambulances in the Golders Green neighborhood of north London on March 24, the detonation of an explosive device in front of a synagogue in Belgium, and a foiled attack targeting a Bank of America office in France.

Analysis of Group Origins

Research into the group’s digital footprint indicates it may not be a legitimate organization. According to analysis by the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT), a think tank based in The Hague, there are no known references to HAYI, either online or offline, prior to March 9, 2026, when a post from the group first appeared in a Telegram channel.

The group’s claims and posts have since been circulated across X and Telegram channels affiliated with pro-Iranian news outlets and militias. Thomas Renard, the director of the ICCT and a counterterrorism expert, stated that the group’s digital presence shows close proximity with the online pro-Iranian ecosystem.

It’s not just that these channels posted these video claims or reposted these video claims, but it’s also the fact that they did so on a timeline that indicates some kind of coordination.

Thomas Renard, Director of the ICCT

Renard told CNN that there are a lot of indications that this group is not genuine, suggesting the group could be part of a state-assisted, low-cost hybrid attack tactic.

Geopolitical Context

The emergence of HAYI occurred shortly after the United States and Israel launched a war on Iran. The timing of the group’s first appearance on March 9 coincides with this escalation in conflict.

In the United Kingdom, the arson attack on ambulances occurred four days after an Iranian man and a joint UK-Iranian national appeared in a London court. The two individuals were charged with spying on targets within London’s Jewish community on behalf of Iran.