The Israeli intelligence agency Mossad has recently gained attention for its aggressive and audacious operations aimed at disrupting adversaries, particularly in Iran. These operations involve both high-profile assassinations, such as that of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, cyber warfare, and complex espionage efforts that last for decades. The agency’s actions serve to showcase its operational excellence and the deepening strategic value of the agency to Israeli national security.
In 2021, Mossad carried out a highly technical assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Iran’s top nuclear scientist. Utilizing a remote-controlled automatic machine gun, the operation demonstrated the agency’s advanced technological prowess and commitment to thwarting Iranian nuclear ambitions. This operation was notable as just one of an array of successful operations undertaken by Mossad over the decades.
Mossad’s records of involvement in Iran far predates targeted killings. The agency’s cyber forces have managed to deeply infiltrate key computers linked to Iran’s nuclear advancement program. They have released malware that shuts down operations and steals sensitive data. In a stunning covert effort, Mossad agents snatched a trove of nuclear paperwork from Iran. This finding allowed tremendously important intelligence to be gained about Tehran’s nuclear weapons program.
The agency’s historical operations highlight its flexibility and ingenuity. During the 1980s, Mossad clandestinely ran a diving resort on the Red Sea coast of Sudan. This operation masked their secret mission to transport thousands of Ethiopian Jews to Israel. This humanitarian effort underscored the agency’s deep commitment to its mission while exhibiting its ability to blend espionage with humanitarian actions.
Mossad’s storied history includes significant contributions to Israel’s national security during moments of crisis. The agency’s actions have helped curtail the networks that carried out the 1972 Munich Olympics assault. This manifestation of its entrepreneurial impulse helped to advance its anti-terrorism agenda preemptively. Most famously, the agency snatched Adolf Eichmann from Argentina in 1960. This operation is now remembered as one of its most storied, effectively bringing one of the key organizers of the Holocaust to justice.
Over several decades, Mossad has developed vast networks of U.S.- and Israeli-connected informants and agents inside Iran. This infrastructure allows for the gathering of vital intelligence that informs Israeli military actions. During recent conflicts, the agency collaborated with Aman, Israel’s military intelligence service, to provide targeting information for operations against Iranian forces.
Mossad mostly has an extraordinary track record. In 1969, they notoriously hijacked warships from the French navy and, in 1973, they communicated vital early warnings of an imminent assault by Egypt and Syria. The agency has a proud history of being able to predict what threats are coming down the road and get out ahead of them.
In more recent operations, Mossad has released footage showing agents deep within Iran assembling missiles and explosive drones intended for targets near Tehran. This show of capability adds further attention to the agency’s sway and power over Iranian military advancements.
Not everything has been as smooth sailing. In 2010, agents were caught on CCTV during a hit in Dubai, and operational security came under scrutiny. 1997 Operation to kill Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal The operation backfired when one of Mossad’s agents was captured. The mission ended in catastrophe, tragically underscoring the dangers of these complex, high-stakes missions.
Mossad has carried out cyber operations against Hezbollah elements in Lebanon. They jammed or brought down thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies, forcing operatives to risk lives and expose themselves as a result. Collectively, these moves show the agency’s receptiveness to using multiple tactics to further its mission.
As Mossad persists and adapts into new modern geopolitical conditions, specialists point out that the psychological warfare feature of its tactics is what makes them so deadly. Yossi Melman, an intelligence expert, stated, “The aim is psychological. The Mossad is telling the Iranian regime: we know everything about you, we can wander into your home when we like, we are an omnipotent force.” Unlike the previous substance of this message, the purpose of this message is to scare our adversaries. Simultaneously, it seeks to shore up Israeli public morale amid these acute, sustained regional stresses.
“Everything the Mossad did was quiet, no one knew. It was a totally different era. The Mossad was just not mentioned.” The dramatic increase in visibility of Mossad’s actions today has been the opposite of its historically secret life.
Experts stress that the success of these operations depends on careful planning and execution. As Melman noted, “The boots on the ground inside Iran are not Israeli, so they have to be recruited, trained, equipped, and deployed. Then all the components of the weapons have to be smuggled in. It all needs a lot of professionalism and skill.”