New Delhi: The Mossad chief, Roman Gofman, has removed two of the Israeli intelligence agency’s most senior officials following the failure of an operation linked to Iran during the recent Israel-Iran conflict, Haaretz reported. The report said the move is among the first major leadership changes made by Gofman since he took over the agency.
According to the report, the dismissed officials headed Mossad’s Intelligence Directorate and Iran Division. Their identities have not been made public.
Haaretz said both officials were closely involved in planning operations related to Iran. The strategy reportedly relied on the belief that military strikes on Iran would trigger widespread anti-government protests and put pressure on Tehran’s leadership.
That, however, did not happen.
The report said the failure of the operation led to changes in Mossad’s senior leadership. However, neither the Israeli government nor Mossad has officially confirmed the reasons behind the dismissals.
The assessment reportedly concluded that internal unrest, combined with sustained military pressure, could significantly weaken Tehran’s leadership.
The reported operation echoes an earlier New York Times report, which said some Israeli officials believed military action against Iran could trigger a popular uprising and weaken the country’s leadership. The article reported that the anticipated revolt never materialized despite the military campaign.
According to Haaretz, the outcome has renewed scrutiny of the intelligence assessments that shaped Israel’s planning before and during the conflict. It has also sparked debate within Israel’s security establishment over whether the assumptions behind the operation accurately reflected conditions inside Iran.
New Mossad chief
Roman Gofman assumed leadership of Mossad earlier this year following the end of David Barnea’s tenure in June.
The report said the removal of the two senior officials forms part of the new director’s effort to reorganize the agency’s leadership. While some officials view the move as a direct response to the failed Iran operation, others believe it reflects a wider review of Mossad’s organisational structure and operational priorities.
The report comes as Israel reviews the outcome of the recent conflict with Iran. The military campaign damaged parts of Iran’s defence and nuclear infrastructure, but it failed to produce the political changes that some planners had reportedly anticipated.