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Mossad's Strategic Manoeuvres in the Middle East

Mossad's recent covert operations, including the assassination of Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh, reveals Israel's geopolitical gambles and their far-reaching impact on West Asia's security and international relations.

By Srijan Sharma
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Mossad's Chief with Netanyahu

Mossad's Chief David Barnea (right) with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) | Photo courtesy: GPO, Israel

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Mossad's Covert Operations and Geopolitical Gambles

Two years after the U.S. successfully targeted the Al-Qaeda chief in Afghanistan, Israel allegedly carried out a covert operation in Iran, resulting in the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, a key Hamas leader. The operation was marked by its mysterious execution and the sophisticated nature of the bomb blast. However, intelligence work in such complex environments often leads to a zero-sum game, where conflicts can either spiral out of control or be strategically contained to minimise escalation. Spies operate in a world of high stakes, where actions can lead to either spectacular successes or catastrophic consequences.

Covert Games on the Edge of War

During the Iran-Iraq war, one of the longest conflicts in the Middle East, covert operations played a crucial role behind the scenes. Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, made the strategic decision to support Iran, despite it being a sworn enemy, in order to counterbalance Iraq under Saddam Hussein. This move was part of Israel’s periphery doctrine, a policy aimed at forging ties with non-Arab nations to counterbalance Arab and other adversarial nations.

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Israel clandestinely ran a covert program supplying weapons to Iran, with permission from the United States to sell unsophisticated arms. However, Mossad deviated from this agreement, secretly supplying sophisticated American-made weapons to I

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