In a rare public disclosure, Mike Burgess, director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), revealed that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) orchestrated the December 2024 arson attack on Melbourne's Adass Israel Synagogue. Speaking during his annual threat assessment speech on Wednesday evening, Burgess detailed how a former Australian resident now living in Iraq directed the assault, recruited through a "complex web of Iraqi-based militia groups."
Burgess explained that the IRGC valued the individual for his wealth and criminal connections, protecting him and supporting his illegal enterprises. However, after ASIO publicly named Iran's involvement, the situation shifted dramatically. "This person's Iranian backers lost their enthusiasm, and after further pressure from Australian and local law enforcement, they threw him in prison," Burgess said.
Iran's Covert Network in Australia
The ASIO chief also linked an Iran-based Australian citizen to the firebombing of the Lewis Continental Kitchen in Bondi in October 2024, describing it as "the first major attack in the summer of antisemitism." This individual, Burgess stated, is a senior agent of the IRGC Qods Force, responsible for running its networks worldwide. "We know more about him than he realises, including the name of his superior in Iran and the department he works for. Department Eleven-thousand, a covert unit within the IRGC Qods Force, is responsible for coordinating operations in the West," he added.
Burgess declined to name the individuals involved, citing ongoing investigations and prosecutions, but issued a direct warning: "But I want them to understand this: We know who you are, we know what you've done and we know who you work for."
The revelations underscore a growing trend of state-sponsored antisemitic violence in Australia, with Iran using criminal proxies to target Jewish communities. This development has broader implications for the Indo-Pacific region, where nations like Japan and South Korea are closely monitoring such tactics. For instance, Japan's Terra Drone tests combat drones in Ukraine to draw lessons for regional security, highlighting how state actors adapt asymmetric methods.
Antisemitism as a Multifaceted Threat
Burgess addressed the complexity of antisemitism in Australia, noting that it emanates from diverse sources simultaneously. "Sadly, and illogically, hatred of Jews is one thing virtually all the violent extremist cohorts have in common. Neo-Nazis are antisemitic. Islamic extremism is antisemitic," he said. He also pointed to issue-motivated extremists, anarchists, and revolutionary groups as sources of antisemitic violence, often fueled by conspiracy theories and stereotypes.
The ASIO chief highlighted that Australian companies perceived as having links to Israel have faced repeated vandalism and arson by far-left activists. "My point is that violent antisemitism is not a single, or simple, intelligence problem," Burgess emphasized. He characterized the firebombing of a synagogue as simultaneously "criminal arson, foreign interference, the promotion of communal violence and politically motivated violence."
This multifaceted threat poses challenges for intelligence agencies across the region. In Southeast Asia, for example, Singapore's capital magnetism risks hollowing out startup ecosystems, but security cooperation remains vital to counter foreign interference. The Australian case also echoes concerns about energy security, as a potential US-Iran deal could restart oil and LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz, affecting global markets and regional stability.
Burgess's speech marks a significant escalation in Australia's public confrontation with Iranian covert operations. It also serves as a warning to other Indo-Pacific nations about the reach of state-sponsored extremism, which exploits criminal networks and ideological divides to destabilize societies. As the region grapples with these threats, the lessons from Melbourne underscore the need for robust intelligence sharing and legal frameworks to counter such hybrid warfare.
