What is Mossad?
To understand Israel’s influence in global security, you must understand Mossad. The agency operates as Israel’s foreign intelligence service, comparable to MI6 or the CIA. From clandestine missions in the Middle East to cyber operations that ripple into Europe, Israel’s shadow agency plays a central role in shaping regional and global intelligence dynamics.
Origins and Development
Israel established Mossad in 1949, just a year after declaring independence. Its mission focused on protecting the new state through espionage, covert operations, and the pursuit of enemies abroad. Over the decades, the agency earned a reputation for daring operations, from capturing Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in Argentina in 1960 to sabotaging hostile nuclear programs.
Structure and Mission
Mossad reports directly to the Israeli Prime Minister. Its structure includes divisions for espionage, covert action, political influence, and cyber operations. The agency operates worldwide, recruiting assets, running agents, and executing missions that often blur the line between intelligence and military action.
Global Reach
Mossad’s operations extend far beyond the Middle East. In Europe, it tracks terrorist networks, monitors Iranian influence, and cooperates with Western agencies on counterterrorism. Its cyber units also engage in offensive and defensive operations, making it a key actor in the digital battlefield.
Confrontation with Russia
Although Mossad’s primary focus remains Iran and regional adversaries, it has increasingly monitored Russian activity. Moscow’s alliances with Tehran and Damascus, as well as Russian disinformation campaigns, put Mossad and Russian intelligence services into indirect confrontation. This overlap extends into Europe, where Mossad and Western agencies share intelligence on hybrid threats.
Partnership with Europe
Mossad maintains close ties with European services, particularly in counterterrorism and cyber defence. It shares intelligence on jihadist networks, tracks weapons flows, and coordinates against common threats. These partnerships ensure that Israeli intelligence plays a role in European security far beyond the Middle East.
Strategic Importance
Israel’s spy agency represents one of the world’s most capable intelligence services. Its history of high-risk operations, global networks, and technological innovation gives Israel a unique influence in international security. For Europe, Mossad’s role highlights how intelligence services operate across borders, linking local threats to global power struggles.
