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Last Updated:
2024-04-02 09:28:31

Mossad

Israeli national intelligence agency
Israeli national intelligence agency
Mossad, officially known as The Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations, is responsible for intelligence gathering, covert missions, and counter-terrorism. It operates under the Prime Minister and has a significant budget and workforce.
1949-12-13
Foundation of Mossad
Mossad, the Israeli foreign intelligence agency, was established on December 13, 1949, with the aim of ensuring the security and existence of Israel as a safe haven for Jews worldwide. It is often seen as a safeguard against another Holocaust, with agents authorized to gather intelligence and carry out targeted operations.
1954
Operation Bren
In 1954, Mossad conducted Operation Bren to abduct Major Alexander Israel, who attempted to sell Israeli military secrets to Egyptian officials. The mission involved a female agent using a honey trap operation to lure him to a meeting in Vienna, where he was kidnapped, sedated, and flown to Israel. Unfortunately, he died due to an overdose of sedatives during the flight.
1956
Mossad's Intelligence Coup in 1956
In 1956, Mossad's successful operation in obtaining a top-secret document from Moscow, denouncing Joseph Stalin, showcased its capabilities. This event led to a strong intelligence partnership between Mossad and the CIA.
1957
Wolfgang Lotz infiltrates Egypt for espionage
In 1957, Mossad spy Wolfgang Lotz, with West German citizenship, infiltrated Egypt to gather intelligence on missile sites, military installations, and industries, as well as German rocket scientists working for the Egyptian government.
1960-05-11
Mossad Operation in Argentina
In 1960, Mossad located Nazi leader Adolf Eichmann in Argentina. A team of agents successfully abducted him, brought him to Israel for trial and execution. This operation caused diplomatic tensions with Argentina and raised concerns at the United Nations Security Council.
1962-09
Disappearance of Heinz Krug
In September 1962, Heinz Krug, chief of a Munich company supplying military hardware to Egypt, disappeared and is believed to have been assassinated.
1963-09-25
Failed Mossad Mail Bomb
In an attempt to kill SS-Hauptsturmführer and concentration camp doctor Hans Eisele, a Mossad mail bomb detonated early, killing a postal worker instead.
1965
Execution of Eli Cohen
Eli Cohen, an Israeli secret agent who infiltrated the Syrian government, was discovered and executed in 1965, highlighting the risks involved in Mossad's covert operations.
1967-05-25
Mossad reports US 'green light' for attack
On May 25, 1967, Mossad director Meir Amit reported to the Israeli cabinet that the United States had given Israel a 'flickering green light' to attack, after a tense confrontation with the CIA Tel Aviv station chief.
1969
Cherbourg Project – Operation Noa
In 1969, the smuggling of five Sa'ar 3-class missile boats out of Cherbourg took place.
1973-07-21
Lillehammer Affair
On July 21, 1973, Ahmed Bouchiki, a Moroccan waiter in Lillehammer, Norway, was mistakenly killed by Mossad agents who thought he was Ali Hassan Salameh. This incident led to the arrest of six Mossad agents and the payment of compensation to Bouchiki's family.
1976
Operation Entebbe
The Mossad provided intelligence for the Israeli Defense Forces' mission, rescuing Jewish and Israeli hostages from terrorist hijackers at Entebbe International Airport in Uganda.
1978-03-28
Poisoned Chocolate Operation
Wadie Haddad, allegedly targeted by Mossad, died from leukemia in the German Democratic Republic after consuming Belgian chocolates coated with a slow-acting poison sent by Mossad.
1978-04-01
Syrian military and secret service personnel killed by Israeli listening device
On April 1, 1978, 12 Syrian military and secret service personnel were killed by a booby trapped sophisticated Israeli listening device planted on the main telephone cable between Damascus and Jordan.
1979-04-05
Explosion at Toulouse for Iraqi Reactor
On April 5, 1979, Mossad agents triggered an explosion destroying 60 percent of components being built in Toulouse for an Iraqi reactor. The reactor itself was later destroyed by an Israeli air strike in 1981.
1980
Killing of Yehia El-Mashad
Yehia El-Mashad, the head of the Iraq nuclear weapons program, was killed in 1980.
1983
Novel 'The Little Drummer Girl' by John Le Carre published
John Le Carre's novel 'The Little Drummer Girl', published in 1983, describes a fictional Mossad operation against Palestinian terrorists.
1984-07-04
Attempted Kidnapping of Umaru Dikko
Mossad agents were caught trying to kidnap Nigerian politician Umaru Dikko from London. They were discovered at Stansted airport with Dikko in a crate about to be flown to Nigeria.
1986
Abduction of Mordechai Vanunu
In 1986, Mossad used an undercover agent to lure Mordechai Vanunu from the United Kingdom to Italy in a honey trap style operation. Vanunu was abducted and returned to Israel, where he was found guilty of treason for exposing Israel's nuclear weapons program.
1987
TV movie 'The Impossible Spy' released
The TV movie 'The Impossible Spy', released in 1987, portrays the life of top Mossad spy Eli Cohen.
1988-06-15
Expulsion of Mossad Agents from the UK
After the trial and conviction of a Palestinian student linked to Mossad, two Mossad agents, Arie Regev and Jacob Barad, were expelled from the UK. The agents failed to disclose the student's activities to MI6.
1990-03-22
Killing of Gerald Bull
In March 1990, Canadian engineer Gerald Bull, working on the Project Babylon supergun for Iraq, was shot multiple times outside his Brussels apartment. Mossad is alleged to be responsible for his killing, although there are alternative theories involving the CIA, Iraq, and Iran.
1992
Killing of Atef Bseiso
Atef Bseiso, a top intelligence officer of the PLO, was allegedly killed in Paris in 1992.
1993
Novel 'Honour Among Thieves' by Jeffrey Archer published
In Jeffrey Archer's novel 'Honour Among Thieves', published in 1993, the lead female protagonist is a Mossad agent.
1994
Mossad Intelligence Gathering in Sudan
Following the 1994 AMIA bombing, Mossad collected intelligence for a planned Israeli Special Forces raid on the Iranian embassy in Khartoum as retaliation. The operation was called off due to concerns about potential reprisal attacks on Jewish communities worldwide.
1998-02
Mossad Wiretapping Incident in Bern
In February 1998, five Mossad agents were caught wiretapping the home of a Hezbollah agent in a Bern suburb. One agent was tried, found guilty, sentenced to prison, and banned from entering Switzerland.
2002-04-03
Death of General Anatoly Kuntsevich
General Anatoly Kuntsevich, suspected of aiding the Syrians in the manufacture of VX nerve-gas, died mysteriously during a plane journey in April 2002 amid allegations that Mossad was responsible.
2004-07
New Zealand imposes diplomatic sanctions on Israel over passport fraud incident
In July 2004, New Zealand imposed diplomatic sanctions on Israel after two Australia-based Israelis, allegedly working for Mossad, attempted to fraudulently obtain New Zealand passports by claiming the identity of a severely disabled man. Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom later apologized for their actions.
2004-09
Killing of Izz El-Deen Sheikh Khalil
In September 2004, Izz El-Deen Sheikh Khalil, a senior member of the military wing of Hamas, was killed in an automobile booby trap in Damascus.
2005
Film 'Munich' released
The film 'Munich', released in 2005, depicts Mossad agents' retaliation against Black September following the events of the 1972 Munich Olympics.
2006
Lebanese Army Uncovered Assassination Network
In 2006, the Lebanese army uncovered a network that allegedly assassinated several Lebanese and Palestinian leaders on behalf of Mossad.
2007-07-25
Al-Safir chemical weapons depot explosion
On July 25, 2007, the al-Safir chemical weapons depot exploded, killing 15 Syrian personnel and 10 Iranian engineers. Syrian investigations blamed Israeli sabotage.
2008
Killing of Muhammad Suleiman
In 2008, Muhammad Suleiman, head of Syria's nuclear program, was allegedly killed by a sniper firing from a boat while on a beach in Tartus.
2009
Lebanese Spy Network Crackdown
Lebanese Security Services, supported by Hezbollah's intelligence unit, collaborated with Syria, Iran, and possibly Russia to crack down on a spy network allegedly working for Israel.
2010-01
Assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh
In January 2010, Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a senior Hamas military commander, was killed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The assassination was carried out by a team of at least 26 agents suspected to be from Mossad, who used bogus passports and subjected al-Mabhouh to electric shocks and interrogation.
2010-08
Death of Yuri Ivanov
In early August 2010, the decomposed body of Yuri Ivanov, the deputy head of the GRU, Russia's foreign military intelligence service, was found on a Turkish beach amid allegations involving Mossad.
2013
TV series 'The Blacklist' premiered
In the TV series 'The Blacklist', premiered in 2013, Mossad agent Samar Navabi is one of the side characters.
2015-11
Mossad and MI5 Agents Protecting PM Narendra Modi
In November 2015, Mossad and MI5 agents were reportedly involved in providing additional security cover to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Turkey. This move was in response to heightened security concerns after the Paris attacks.
2018-08-05
Assassination of Aziz Asbar
On August 5, 2018, Aziz Asbar, a senior Syrian scientist responsible for developing long-range rockets and chemical weapons programs, was killed in a car bomb in Masyaf, with Mossad being accused of involvement.
2019
Film 'The Red Sea Diving Resort' released
The film 'The Red Sea Diving Resort', released in 2019, is loosely based on the events of Operation Moses and Operation Joshua, where Ethiopian Jews were covertly moved from refugee camps in Sudan to Israel.
2020
Production of Mossad Documentary
In 2020, a documentary about Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, was produced by Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion for ZDF in association with ZDF Enterprises.
2022-09
Attempted kidnapping of Palestinian computer experts in Kuala Lumpur
In September 2022, Malaysian Mossad operatives attempted to kidnap two Palestinian computer experts. One was kidnapped, but the other escaped and alerted Malaysian police. This incident revealed an undercover Mossad cell in Malaysia.
2023-01-25
The Unbelievable History of Israel’s Mossad Spy Agency
A collection of intriguing facts about the Mossad spy agency of Israel, guaranteed to send shivers down your spine.
2023-04-20
Radical Islamic Terror as a Challenge
Radical Islamic terror is currently identified as one of the major challenges encountered by Mossad.
2024-03-21
Netanyahu rejects Mossad outline for Gaza hostage deal with Hamas
In March 2024, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu declined a plan proposed by Mossad for a potential agreement with Hamas regarding hostages in Gaza.
End of the Timeline
Mossad

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Mossad

Israeli national intelligence agency
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