Belgium Sends Troops to Guard Jewish Sites After Iran‑Linked Group Claims Synagogue Attacks
Belgium has deployed military personnel to protect Jewish sites nationwide after a new jihadi group with alleged ties to an Iranian proxy claimed responsibility for a string of recent attacks on synagogues and a Jewish school in Europe, including a March 9 explosion outside a synagogue in Liège. The group, Harakat Ashab al‑Yamin al‑Islamiyya ('The Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right'), said it carried out the Liège bombing, an arson attack on a synagogue in Rotterdam and an explosive attack on a Jewish school in Amsterdam, while a fourth incident at a Jewish site in Greece is being probed as related. Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin condemned the Liège blast as a 'despicable antisemitic act,' and Defense Minister Theo Francken said troops are being sent to 'support security on our streets' so the country’s Jewish community can be protected. Israel’s Foreign Ministry has publicly blamed 'a jihadi group tied to an Iranian proxy,' and analysts argue the ongoing war with Iran is likely encouraging such operations, while U.S. officials, including the State Department’s antisemitism envoy and an under secretary, are publicly pressing European allies to move from rhetoric to concrete security measures. The coordinated nature of the attacks and their alleged Iranian link are fueling broader concern that Jewish institutions across Europe are becoming soft targets in a proxy campaign tied to the Iran conflict, with social media already awash in debates over whether European authorities are moving fast enough to deter copycats.
📌 Key Facts
- A March 9, 2026 explosion outside a synagogue in Liège, Belgium, prompted the government to deploy military personnel to help guard Jewish sites.
- The group Harakat Ashab al‑Yamin al‑Islamiyya claims responsibility for the Liège blast, an arson attack on a synagogue in Rotterdam, and an explosive attack on a Jewish school in Amsterdam, with a fourth incident in Greece under investigation.
- Israel’s Foreign Ministry says a 'jihadi group tied to an Iranian proxy' is behind the attacks, and senior U.S. State Department officials have publicly praised Belgium’s decision to bolster security for its Jewish community.
📊 Relevant Data
Antisemitic incidents in Belgium have increased significantly, with reports indicating widespread antisemitism in Brussels, where a 2026 study found that 35% of respondents agreed with antisemitic prejudices such as 'Jews have too much power in the business world'.
Antisemitism is 'widespread' in Brussels, says new report — The Brussels Times
The Muslim population in Belgium has grown from approximately 4% in 2010 to an estimated 7.6% in 2016, with projections indicating around 6% in 2026, primarily due to immigration from guest worker programs initiated in the 1960s and subsequent naturalization policies that have integrated over 600,000-700,000 people in the last 20 years.
Islam in Belgium — Wikipedia
Belgium's Jewish population is small, estimated at 0.3-0.4% of the total population (around 36,000 people in 2026), making the community particularly vulnerable to targeted attacks, while the overall population of Belgium is approximately 11.7 million.
Belgium population (2026) live — Countrymeters
Even without further migration, Europe's Muslim population is projected to rise to 7.4% by 2050 due to higher birth rates and younger age structures, with Belgium expected to see similar trends from its current 6-7.6%.
Muslim Population Growth in Europe — Pew Research Center
A new Iran-linked group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya, has been connected to multiple attacks on Jewish institutions in Europe in 2026, including in Belgium, Netherlands, and Greece, as part of broader Iranian proxy activities amid regional conflicts.
New Iran-linked terror org behind attacks on European Jewish institutions — The Times of Israel
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