Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Israel’s elite intelligence agency, Mossad, executed a high-stakes covert operation involving Iranian security agents to assassinate Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of the Palestinian group Hamas, in Tehran. This daring mission, reported by The Telegraph, showcases the lengths to which Mossad will go to eliminate key adversaries.
The initial plan was to target Haniyeh during his visit to Tehran in May for the funeral of former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. However, the operation was called off due to the overwhelming crowds, posing a significant risk of failure, according to two Iranian officials who spoke to The Telegraph.
To adapt, Mossad directed two agents to plant explosive devices in three rooms of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) guesthouse in northern Tehran, anticipating Haniyeh’s stay there. Surveillance footage held by Iranian officials shows these agents entering and exiting multiple rooms within minutes, successfully placing the devices undetected.
With a substantial annual budget of $3 billion and a 7,000-strong workforce, Mossad ranks as the second-largest espionage agency in the West, following the CIA. Its extensive network of informants and agents spans hostile nations, including Lebanon, Syria, and Iran, allowing Mossad to meticulously plan and execute precise assassinations.
The Special Operations Division, known as Metsada, is responsible for executing these high-stakes missions, which include assassinations, sabotage, paramilitary, and psychological warfare operations.
On the early morning of Wednesday, at 2 am, the operatives remotely detonated the explosives in the room where Haniyeh was staying, resulting in his death. Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian. This assassination has been confirmed by IRGC officials, who suspect Mossad used agents from the Ansar-al-Mahdi protection unit, a group tasked with safeguarding high-ranking officials.
“This is a humiliation for Iran and a huge security breach,” an IRGC official told The Telegraph. In response, a special working group has been established to address the breach and strategize mitigation measures.
The IRGC is now considering its retaliation options, with a direct strike on Tel Aviv involving Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies being a primary consideration. Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iran has aimed to expand its influence across the Middle East using proxy groups, facilitated by the Quds Force, a branch of the IRGC specializing in intelligence and covert operations.
The assassination’s timing, coinciding with President Pezeshkian’s first day in office, raises suspicions about its intentionality. During his campaign, President Pezeshkian pledged to move away from the Islamic Republic’s provocative policies and restore Iran’s standing through dialogue. However, the entrenched power of hardliners and the ultimate authority of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will challenge Pezeshkian’s ability to implement his vision.
