All articles tagged with #mossad
Iran hanged Erfan Shakourzadeh, a 29-year-old graduate student, after convicting him of spying for the CIA and Mossad; rights groups say he was tortured and forced to confess, while a prison note from him claimed innocence as executions continue amid protests and heightened tensions with the U.S.
Tamir Pardo, a former Mossad chief, told Channel 13 that settler violence in the occupied West Bank echoes the Holocaust, condemning inaction by authorities and warning it could threaten Israel’s stability or spark a civil crisis. He noted support for settlers from high-level ministers and invoked Leibowitz’s warnings about occupation corroding society. The article highlights intensified violence since Oct 2023, including Palestinian deaths from settlers, mass displacement in the West Bank, and thousands of violent incidents alongside numerous fatalities since Hamas’s 2023 attacks.
Iran hanged Erfan Kiani, identified by state media as a leader of a January-protests group in Isfahan alleged to have acted for Mossad; the Supreme Court had upheld the death sentence, and authorities carried out the execution amid a broader crackdown on protest-related crimes, a move that rights groups say risks unfair trials and coercive confessions as executions continue.
Mossad chief David Barnea revealed that a covert Mossad agent identified only as M. was killed abroad during anti-Iran operations; Barnea credited M.'s leadership—combining creativity, cunning and advanced tech—with significantly influencing the Iran-focused campaign. He did not identify M., when they died, or where, but Israeli reports linked M. to a 2023 boat sinking on Lake Maggiore, near Milan, that also killed two Italian agents and the captain’s wife. M. reportedly served 30 years with Mossad, and Barnea’s remarks constitute the first public acknowledgment of M.’s death.
Israel’s Mossad, Shin Bet and IDF jointly announced the exposure of a worldwide Iranian terror network run by the IRGC’s Unit 4000, with its top leaders killed earlier in the Israel‑US war against Iran; Azerbaijan said it foiled Iranian plots on its soil—including attacks on Israel’s embassy and a synagogue—and reported drone smuggling and intelligence gathering against targets abroad. The statement names operatives such as Rahman Moqadam, Majid Khademi, Mohsen Suri and Mahdi Yekeh‑Dehghan, and notes Iran‑backed plots against Israeli embassies since Oct 7, 2023. The disclosure could influence diplomacy with Iran and underscores Tehran’s global terror reach.
Israel names Maj.-Gen Roman Gofman as Mossad chief as the US-Iran confrontation escalates: Trump orders a Strait of Hormuz blockade after failed talks and CENTCOM says it will enforce it, while IMF warns the Hormuz disruption could become the new normal amid ongoing Lebanon and Gaza tensions.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman, his military secretary, to succeed David Barnea as Mossad director, effective June 2. A Belarus-born 49-year-old with strong military credentials but limited Mossad background, Gofman has large PM backing and reported support from IDF Chief Zamir, but critics worry about his lack of agency experience and English fluency. Analysts note his decisiveness and battlefield-tested leadership as potential strengths, while internal Mossad rivalries and adapting to a global spy role could pose challenges.
Anonymous leaks attacking Mossad chief David Barnea over Iran regime-change ambitions may miss his nuanced, risk-aware approach; The Jerusalem Post notes he often presents predictions with qualifications and acts under Netanyahu’s direction, stressing that military action can at best create conditions for change rather than guarantee rapid regime collapse. The article finds no evidence that Mossad diverges from the IDF, highlights Barnea’s long-term, 'death by a thousand cuts' strategy with Bennett, and warns against oversimplifying the regime-change narrative amid ongoing US-Israeli debates and Iran protests.
The New York Times reports Mossad proposed a plan to ignite mass protests to topple Iran’s government, pitched to Netanyahu and later discussed with Trump; U.S. and Israeli officials doubted the feasibility of an uprising, and the campaign did not materialize according to intelligence assessments.
Mossad chief David Barnea urged plans to spark a domestic Iranian revolt within days of the conflict, a strategy Netanyahu and some U.S. officials initially embraced, including mobilizing Kurdish forces. But weeks into the war, intelligence assessments show the Iranian government remains intact and capable of quelling protests, making a mass uprising unlikely. The strategy hinged on ground support and provocation, including Kurdish actions, but those have faced skepticism and pushback from U.S. leaders. While some officials say pressure on Tehran continues, there’s little evidence of the hoped-for regime-change outcome arriving anytime soon.
US intelligence says Mossad could detect and stop Iran from moving its remaining 60% enriched uranium (about 400 kg stored at Isfahan) that could be used for weapons; Iran’s stockpile survived last year’s strikes on Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan, and any movement would prompt a strong response, potentially a covert raid after further weakening Iran’s defenses. Iran has refused IAEA access, while the US-Israel aerial campaign continues and officials weigh options, including force if necessary.
U.S. and Israeli officials say Kurdish Iranian groups based in Iraq are preparing for a possible cross-border ground offensive into northwestern Iran, potentially coordinated with the ongoing U.S.-Israeli air campaign. The factions, forming the Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan, are allegedly backed by Mossad and the CIA to seize territory inside Iran and spark a broader uprising, though officials stress no approved plan for a ground invasion and Iraqi authorities deny allowing such actions.
The piece claims that Israel, with significant CIA and US intelligence support, carried out a meticulously planned operation to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with top security aides, arguing the action represents a shift toward a broader US-Israeli campaign against Tehran—yet experts warn such assassinations may backfire by prompting retaliation or unifying foes, rather than resolving Iran’s leadership crisis.
Iran executed Aghil Keshavarz, a man convicted of spying for Israel's Mossad, after he was caught taking photos of military sites and accused of carrying out over 200 assignments for Mossad across Iran. This follows a series of espionage-related executions amid ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel.
Iran executed Bahman Choubi-asl, identified as a key Israeli spy, amid ongoing tensions and shadow war with Israel, with Iran increasing executions of individuals accused of espionage for Israel this year.