Mossad Exposed: The Greatest Successes and Failures of Israel’s Elite Spy Agency

Since the beginning of Israeli attacks on Iran, Israeli aircraft have targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, military installations, and private residences, most of which are located in the western part of the country and around the capital, Tehran.

Although these attacks were carried out from the air, it is suspected that Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad played a significant role in identifying these targets and assisting in ground operations.

It is believed that Mossad agents used drones smuggled into the country to target Iran's remaining air defense systems. Iranian officials have previously admitted that they suspect the presence of Israeli intelligence collaborators within their security forces.

Since the start of Israeli strikes on June 13, a large number of key Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists have been successfully targeted, indicating that Israel had precise intelligence on their whereabouts.

Notable Successful and Failed Operations by Mossad

Assassination of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh

Ismail Haniyeh, the political head of Hamas, was killed on July 31, 2024, while staying at a guesthouse in Tehran.

Israel initially did not take responsibility for the killing, but months later, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant admitted that Israel was behind the assassination.

However, the exact circumstances of Haniyeh’s death remain unclear.

A senior Hamas official, Khalil al-Hayya, in a press conference, cited eyewitnesses claiming that Haniyeh was directly targeted by a missile.

However, a report in the New York Times, citing seven officials, claimed that Haniyeh was killed by a bomb planted two months earlier in the building where he was staying.

Haniyeh was one of the senior Hamas leaders killed by Israel after the group’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. Other Hamas leaders targeted include Yahya Sinwar, his brother Mohammad, military wing chief Mohammad Deif, and his deputy Marwan Issa.

‘Pager’ Attacks on Hezbollah Operatives

On September 17, 2024, thousands of pagers exploded simultaneously across Lebanon, especially in areas with strong Hezbollah influence.

These blasts injured and killed not only the users but also those nearby, causing widespread panic.

The next day, walkie-talkies also exploded, causing hundreds more injuries and deaths.

At the time, clashes were ongoing between Israel and Hezbollah, which had intensified after Hezbollah launched rockets at Israeli positions a day after Hamas’s October 7 attacks.

Two months later, the Israeli Prime Minister admitted Mossad had embedded explosive devices in walkie-talkie batteries. These devices were deadly because walkie-talkies are usually kept close to the heart in the chest pockets of protective vests.

These explosions triggered a wave of fear across Lebanon as many occurred in public places like markets. Hospitals were overwhelmed with injured people, many of whom were left disabled.

Volker Türk, head of the UN Human Rights Office, condemned the attack as a war crime.

Assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh

In November 2020, Iran’s top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assassinated east of Tehran.

He was killed using a remote-controlled machine gun assisted by artificial intelligence.

In April 2018, Israeli PM Netanyahu had presented folders of documents allegedly stolen by Mossad during a raid on a storage facility just 30 kilometers from Tehran. These documents supposedly revealed Iran’s covert nuclear weapons program and highlighted Fakhrizadeh’s central role.

Iran had earlier accused Israel of killing four other nuclear scientists between 2010 and 2012.

Assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in a Dubai Hotel

In 2010, senior Hamas military figure Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was killed in a Dubai hotel.

Initially believed to be a natural death, Dubai police later used CCTV footage to identify the hit squad.

It was revealed he had been electrocuted and then strangled.

Though Mossad was suspected, Israel neither confirmed nor denied involvement, maintaining its policy of “strategic ambiguity.”

Yahya Ayyash and the Exploding Phone

In 1996, Mossad assassinated Yahya Abdul-Latif Ayyash, a key Hamas bombmaker, using a Motorola Alpha mobile phone rigged with 50 grams of explosives.

Ayyash was known for his bomb-making skills and planning complex attacks. He was high on Israel’s most-wanted list.

In 2019, Israel declassified details of the operation, and a TV station aired his final conversation with his father before the explosion.

This highlighted Mossad’s use of advanced technology in targeted killings.

Operation Brothers

In the early 1980s, under orders from the Israeli Prime Minister, Mossad launched a deceptive operation to smuggle 7,000 Ethiopian Jews into Israel via Sudan.

A fake diving resort was set up on the Sudanese coast—Sudan being a member of the Arab League and hostile to Israel.

By day, Mossad agents posed as resort staff. By night, they smuggled Ethiopian Jews who had walked across the border.

They were then flown or shipped to Israel. The operation lasted five years and was completed before Sudan discovered it.

The 'Holocaust': Capture of Nazi Officer

In 1960, Mossad abducted former Nazi officer Adolf Eichmann from Argentina in one of its most historic intelligence operations.

Eichmann was responsible for orchestrating the Holocaust, in which six million Jews were killed during WWII.

After escaping post-war justice, Eichmann hid in Argentina.

In 1957, Fritz Bauer, Chief Prosecutor of West Germany’s Hesse state, informed Mossad of Eichmann’s whereabouts.

A 14-agent Mossad team located, kidnapped, and transported him to Israel, where he was tried and executed.

Operation Entebbe

Israel’s Entebbe operation in Uganda is considered one of its most successful military missions, based on Mossad intelligence.

A passenger plane from Tel Aviv to Paris via Athens was hijacked by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and two Germans.

The plane was diverted to Uganda, where 103 Israeli citizens were among 250 hostages.

Israeli commandos stormed the airport and rescued the hostages. Three hostages and Yonatan Netanyahu—brother of current PM Benjamin Netanyahu—were killed in the mission.

Several Ugandan soldiers were also killed.

Revenge for the Munich Olympics

In 1972, the Palestinian group Black September attacked the Israeli Olympic team in Munich, killing two and taking nine hostages—all of whom later died during a failed rescue.

In response, Mossad launched a revenge campaign targeting several PLO members, including Mahmoud Hamshari, who was injured by a bomb hidden in his phone in Paris and later died from his injuries.

Mossad's Failures

October 7 Hamas Attack

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack near Gaza, shocking the world.

Analysts regard Mossad’s failure to foresee the attack as a major intelligence lapse.

According to Israeli officials, the attack resulted in around 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken to Gaza.

In retaliation, Israel has focused its military efforts on Gaza’s civilian population rather than just Hamas, resulting in over 57,000 civilian deaths—mostly women and children.

Yom Kippur War

Nearly 50 years before the Hamas attack, Israel faced another surprise assault it was unprepared for.

On October 6, 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a coordinated attack on Israel during Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement.

Egyptian forces crossed the Suez Canal with little resistance, and Syrian forces advanced on the Golan Heights.

The Soviet Union supported Egypt and Syria, while the US rushed aid to Israel.

Though Israel eventually repelled the forces, the war ended on October 25 after a UN ceasefire resolution was passed.

When Israel Had to Save a Hamas Leader’s Life

In 1997, Mossad attempted to assassinate Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal in Jordan using a poison injection, but the operation failed when an agent was caught.

Israel was forced to provide the antidote to save Meshaal’s life.

Mossad chief Danny Yatom flew to Jordan to administer the antidote.

The incident seriously damaged Israel-Jordan relations.

Failed Assassination Attempt on Mahmoud al-Zahar

In 2003, Israel carried out an airstrike on Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar’s home in Gaza City.

Though al-Zahar survived, his wife, son Khaled, and several others were killed.

The complete destruction of his home highlighted the risks of military operations in densely populated areas.

Lavon Affair

In 1954, Egyptian authorities foiled a secret Israeli operation codenamed "Susannah."

The plan was to plant bombs in American and British installations in Egypt, to convince the UK to maintain its military presence in the Suez Canal region.

The failed operation caused a diplomatic crisis, leading to what became known as the "Lavon Affair," named after Israeli Defense Minister Pinhas Lavon, who was believed to be involved in planning the operation.