Latest news with #SayeretMatkal
India.com
13 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
When Mossad's secret 'suicidal mission' to kill Saddam Hussein ended in tragedy, Israeli commandos returned in coffins due to..., truth was...
The tensions between Israel and Iran continue to escalate with every passing day. The conflict escalated dramatically on June 13, with Israel's launch of 'Operation Rising Lion', which involved loose strikes against Iran's nuclear and military facilities. Iran has responded to this attack, and there has been intense and ongoing activity across the region. Amid all of this, the issue is now whether the United States will also join Israel's ongoing war against Iran, with President Donald Trump set to make a decision in the next two weeks. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday (local time), citing a continued possibility of diplomatic engagement with Tehran. Addressing a briefing at the White House, Leavitt read out a statement from President Trump, who acknowledged the potential for diplomatic negotiations despite the escalating conflict in the Middle East. 'Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,' Leavitt quoted the President as saying. Israel has reportedly killed many of Iran's highest-ranking State military leaders and nuclear scientists, raising tensions between the two countries. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday issued a serious threat to Israel of retaliation.'We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy,' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wrote in English on X. As Israel and the United States ramp up their threats to Iran and its Supreme Leader, an unsettling and chilling memory from the early 1990s arises—a secret, maximally ravenous plot to assassinate former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. So-called Operation Bramble Bush failed, but it is a timely reminder of just how fast international diplomacy can devolve into dangerous, visceral acts of terror shaped by politics and power. According to an NDTV report, after the Gulf War in 1991, Israel viewed Saddam Hussein as an unstable and dangerous threat. While Israel was not a combatant in the Gulf War, it had been subjected to a number of Scud missile attacks from Iraq. Furthermore, various intelligence agencies had reported sights that Saddam was working on weapons of mass destruction. In recognition of the danger this presented, Israeli military and intelligence officials began to develop a plan to assassinate Saddam in a public appearance so that they could eliminate a threat which they considered to be growing and unpredictable. The mission, known only as Operation Bramble Bush, was assigned to Sayeret Matkal, Israel's premier special forces unit. The target was a funeral in Saddam Hussein's birthplace of Tikrit. As per the NDTV report, the plan was for Israeli commandos disguised as Arabs to infiltrate the area undetected and attack Saddam's convoy using shoulder-launched missiles as he left the funeral. The intelligence for the mission was provided by Mossad, and the final order for the op was made by the most senior command of the Israeli military. On November 5, 1992, the Sayeret Matkal team gathered in the Negev Desert to conduct a live-fire rehearsal of their planned action. The exercise was intended to prepare the team as closely as possible to the strike on Saddam Hussein. The team used real, armed missiles and was under the assumption that proper safety precautions were taken, and they could not go wrong. During the simulation, an unfortunate and tragic error occurred when one of the operatives mistakenly launched a live missile at his own unit, killing five soldiers from the elite troops and injuring six others seriously. The mission was terminated as soon as possible, and a rehearsal turned into a national tragedy. This incident subsequently became known as the Tze'elim Bet catastrophe, a tragic chapter in Israel's military history. An internal inquiry revealed monumental breakdowns in planning, communication, and risk management. Two days after the disastrous rehearsal, Operation Bramble Bush had been formally cancelled. The dead elite commandos were kept a secret from the public for years, and the entire mission was classified, hidden in the darkness of military secrecy. Thirty years later, Israel is once again waging war against the top leadership of a rival nation—and this time, it is not Baghdad, it is Tehran. In recent days, Israeli forces executed another series of precision strikes that have successfully targeted and killed several of the most important members of Iran's leadership. These include killing the IRGC chief General Hossein Salami and aerospace commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh, and several members of Iran's leadership in the Iran nuclear program. The strikes also targeted important nuclear sites in Natanz, Isfahan, and Arak, all of which will delay Iran's nuclear program going forward.
NDTV
a day ago
- Politics
- NDTV
How Mossad Plot To Kill Saddam Hussein Ended In 5 Israeli Commandos Dying
New Delhi: The Middle East is once again on edge. What began as a sudden burst of Israeli airstrikes has now erupted into a full-blown military confrontation with Iran. Israel killed several of Iran's top military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran responded with hypersonic missiles and drone swarms, breaching Israeli defences and prompting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to declare, "The battle begins. No mercy for the Zionists." As Israel and the US issue open threats to Iran and its Supreme Leader, another plot, albeit failed, to assassinate former Iraq President Saddam Hussein in the early 1990s comes to mind. It was called Operation Bramble Bush. Israel's Forgotten Plot To Kill Saddam Hussein Following the 1991 Gulf War, Israel viewed Saddam as a dangerous and unpredictable threat. Despite not being a party to the war, Israel suffered multiple Scud missile attacks from Iraq. Intelligence claimed Saddam was developing weapons of mass destruction. Determined to eliminate the threat, Israeli military and intelligence planners designed a mission to assassinate Saddam at a public event. The plan, codenamed Operation Bramble Bush, was to be carried out by Sayeret Matkal, Israel's most elite commando unit. The target was a funeral in Saddam's hometown of Tikrit, where he was expected to attend. Disguised as Arabs, Israeli commandos would infiltrate the area and launch shoulder-fired missiles at Saddam's convoy during the ceremony. Mossad provided the intelligence, while the IDF's top brass approved the operation. The Tze'elim Bet Disaster On November 5, 1992, the Sayeret Matkal team assembled in the Negev Desert to carry out a live-fire rehearsal. To simulate the real attack, they used live missiles, under the assumption that safety measures were foolproof. They weren't. During the simulation, one of the operatives mistakenly fired a real missile at his own team, killing five elite soldiers and seriously wounding six others. The mission was immediately called off. The incident was later known as the Tze'elim Bet disaster. An internal probe revealed serious lapses in planning, communication, and risk assessment. Two days later, Operation Bramble Bush was officially scrapped. The deaths of the commandos were kept secret from the public for years, and the operation remained classified. Then And Now Three decades later, Israel finds itself once again targeting the top tier of another country, this time not in Baghdad but in Tehran. In recent days, Israeli forces have executed a wave of high-precision strikes that killed some of Iran's most powerful figures, including IRGC chief General Hossein Salami, aerospace commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh, and multiple nuclear scientists. The strikes also hit critical nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Arak. Unlike Bramble Bush, this is no covert op. It is a public military campaign. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not ruled out targeting Supreme Leader Khamenei himself. Calling Iran's regime an "existential threat," Netanyahu declared, "Israel's fight is not against the Iranian people. Our fight is against the murderous Islamic regime that oppresses and impoverishes you." He added, "This is your opportunity to stand up and let your voices be heard... unite around your flag and your historic legacy."
Saudi Gazette
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Israeli soldiers sign new petition demanding prisoner swap, end to Gaza war
JERUSALEM — Hundreds of Israeli soldiers from various units, including elite and special forces, have signed a new petition urging the government to secure a prisoner exchange deal and bring an end to the ongoing war in Gaza, Israeli broadcaster KAN reported on Friday. The petition, signed by members from intelligence unit 8200, Sayeret Matkal, Shayetet, Shaldag, and other military divisions, calls for a resolution to the humanitarian and military crisis that has gripped both sides since October 2023. KAN noted that between 20% and 30% of the signees are active reservists, adding to the weight of the growing dissent within the military ranks. This is the sixth such petition reported since Thursday. Previous petitions were signed by around 1,000 Air Force personnel, 1,000 academics, hundreds from the armored corps and navy, dozens of reserve military doctors, and hundreds from Unit 8200. The latest includes hundreds from a wide range of operational units. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed to dismiss any active-duty soldier found to have signed these petitions. The Israeli military resumed its assault on Gaza on March 18, shattering a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that had taken effect on January the war began in October 2023 following a Hamas-led attack, nearly 51,000 Palestinians — mostly women and children — have been killed in Gaza, according to local health authorities. The conflict has devastated the enclave and rendered vast areas International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity. Additionally, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its conduct in Gaza. — Agencies
The Guardian
21-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Who is Ronen Bar, the recently sacked chief of Israel's Shin Bet security service?
Ronen Bar, the head of Israel's powerful internal security service, the Shin Bet, may seem an unlikely rebel. A former special forces soldier who holds degrees from Tel Aviv and Harvard universities, Bar has devoted three decades of his working life to the service of the state. His frame is lean, greying hair close shaved, features gaunt, manner reserved and speech moderate. But Bar has found himself on the frontline of Israel's bitter internal political, social and cultural conflicts. On Thursday night, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu voted to dismiss the 59-year-old from his post – the first Shin Bet chief ever to be fired. His sacking has prompted massive protest demonstrations across Israel and revived accusations that Netanyahu wants to dismantle Israel's democracy. Yossi Melman, a veteran Israeli security reporter, said: 'He never intended to be a hero to the opposition or the protest movement. He is a typical product of Israel's security establishment. He is not a liberal or a softie but he is honest and brought up in the tradition that the state is important but without the law the state is nothing.' Bar served is military service in the Sayeret Matkal, Israel's elite special forces. He then opened and ran a bar in Tel Aviv, where he met his wife. After obtaining degrees in political science and philosophy from Tel Aviv University and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard, he joined the Shin Bet and rose steadily through the ranks of its operations division, which manages logistics and support for the frontline teams handling everything from agents to assassinations in the occupied West Bank or elsewhere. The priority of the Shin Bet is counter-terrorism, but the service also investigates espionage, manages security clearance for thousands of sensitive posts and has a legal duty to defend Israel's democratic system. Bar took over the service in 2021, having been appointed by the then prime minister, Naftali Bennett, and was expected set to serve the standard five-year term. Now only a supreme court judgment can stop him from being summarily dismissed a year early. One of the first senior security officials to accept responsibility for the many failures that allowed Hamas's deadly surprise attack into Israel on October 7, 2023, Bar made it clear he intended to resign. He has stayed on so long, associates and supporters say, to work towards the release of hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza and to protect the Shin Bet from political manoeuvres. That first objective has been partly achieved but not the second. Bar became a target himself when he warned of the threat posed by 'Jewish terrorism' – a reference to violence perpetrated by parts of the far-right settler movement – and warned the far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, that police action in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem was creating a feeling of collective punishment among Palestinian residents. This may have been honest but made for powerful enemies. The support of Ben Gvir and other far-right politicians linked to the settlers is vital for Netanyahu to maintain his grip on power. In March 2023, amid widespread protests against government plans for judicial reforms, Bar told Netanyahu there was a link 'between security threats and the social situation in Israel', according to remarks reported by Israeli media. A Shin Bet report into the 2023 attack released earlier this month attacked Netanyahu indirectly, saying that Israel had followed for years a 'policy of quiet [which] had enabled Hamas to undergo massive military buildup'. The implicit criticism took place as the Shin Bet stepped up an investigation into allegations that close aides of Netanyahu received payments from Qatar to promote its interests even while the Gulf state was partly financing Hamas in Gaza. One of Bar's greatest concerns is the appointment of a compliant government loyalist as his replacement, with huge consequences for investigations into the 'Qatargate' scandal and much else, Melman said. For his part, Netanyahu has cited a 'persistent loss of professional and personal trust' for Bar's dismissal, due to take effect by 10 April. Bar denies this, pointing to months of effective collaboration with the prime minister, and in a letter published this week described his dismissal as being motivated primarily by Netanyahu's 'personal interests'. 'The dismissal of the Shin Bet director at this time [and] at the prime minister's initiative, poses a direct threat to Israel's security,' the former commando wrote. Critics have claimed that he is trying to cover up the failures that led to the October 2023 attacks. Supporters said he is doing his job and speaking truth to power.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ronen Bar: ex-Shin Bet chief who incurred right-wing wrath
The days of Ronen Bar as Israel's Shin Bet chief were already numbered after Hamas's deadly attack on October 7, 2023, having hinted he would resign to take responsibility for failing to prevent it. But he was sacked on Friday before he could depart himself, after incurring the wrath of the country's right wing over his positions, including on the attack. The 59-year-old, with a salt and pepper buzz cut and beard, rose through the ranks to lead the internal security agency after three decades. But he courted anger for speaking of "Jewish terrorism" and opening investigations that targeted those in power after his October 2021 appointment by the previous government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited a "persistent loss of professional and personal trust" for Bar's dismissal, due to take effect by 10 April. Bar, an Arabic speaker, was a former member of the Israeli army's elite Sayeret Matkal unit, like Netanyahu, but their relationship was strained. In a letter made public late Thursday, Bar described his dismissal as being motivated by Netanyahu's "personal interests". The security chief referred to the conclusions drawn by his agency's probe into the unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which said "a policy of quiet had enabled Hamas to undergo massive military buildup". He also pointed to alleged payments from Qatar to people close to the leader, as he vowed to defend himself to the "appropriate bodies". - Operations - Bar joined the internal security service in 1993 after obtaining degrees in political science and philosophy from Tel Aviv University and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard, according to Israeli media reports. Born in 1965, Bar began as a field officer in the Shin Bet's operational unit, taking part in numerous operations in the Gaza Strip, the occupied West Bank and Lebanon. In 2011, he was appointed head of the Shin Bet's Operations Division and took charge of the mission that led to the assassination of Ahmed Jabari, a leader of Hamas's military wing. Three years later, he led search efforts for three Israeli teenagers kidnapped in the occupied West Bank and the hunt for their killers after their bodies were found. In 2018 he was promoted to number two in the organisation. Then in late 2021, he took over as head of the Shin Bet for a five-year term. His positions soon created opposition from within Netanyahu's government, which came back to power at the end of 2022, backed by the country's extreme right. Bar claimed to fight against "Jewish terrorism" which he said helped fuel "Palestinian terrorism", according to his comments quoted by the Israeli media. - Investigations - In 2023, Bar warned far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir that police action in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem was creating a feeling of collective punishment and harassment among Palestinian residents. He also asked Ben Gvir not to go to the Temple Mount, also known as the Haram al-Sharif, a highly sensitive site in the Old City of Jerusalem revered by both Muslims and Jews. The minister ignored his warnings. In March 2023, amid protests against judicial reforms, he told Netanyahu there was a link "between security threats and the social situation in Israel", according to remarks reported by Israeli media. His fate was ultimately sealed by implicating the government in the Hamas attack on October 7 and a probe into the "Qatargate" affair, said Yossi Shain, a professor of political science at Tel Aviv University. The affair saw senior Netanyahu advisers accused of being paid to promote Qatari interests. Bar had become the right-wing's "bete noire" and his dismissal was "a promise (Netanyahu) had made to Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich to secure his coalition", said Shain, referring to Israel's far-right Finance Minister. Ben Gvir was reinstated as national security minister on Wednesday after leaving the government in January in protest against a truce agreed with Hamas. That decision came three days after Netanyahu announced Bar's imminent dismissal. dms/cyj/roc/phs/jfx/hmn
