David Barnea's Mossad revolution: How the agency became a war-fighting juggernaut - exclusive

David Barnea has completed a transformative five-year tenure as Mossad chief, during which he reshaped the Israeli intelligence agency from a clandestine operator into a formidable force influencing regional conflicts. His leadership saw the Mossad play a critical role on multiple Middle Eastern fronts, impacting operations against Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and counter-terrorism efforts abroad.

Barnea's term, spanning some of Israel's most critical historical junctures, included significant operations such as sabotaging Iran's infrastructure in June 2025 and contributing to the assassination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in the fall of 2024. These actions demonstrate the agency's expanded operational capacity and its direct influence on geopolitical events.

The report reveals the extensive use of local Lebanese agents in Mossad operations, particularly in the complex mission to assassinate Nasrallah. These operatives navigated dangerous, recently bombed areas, often under direct IDF fire, to plant devices and conduct battle damage assessments. This reliance on local assets marks a significant evolution in Mossad's operational methods.

Intelligence gathered over a decade by the IDF and Mossad, including from Iranian collaborators, was crucial for the Nasrallah operation. Mossad operatives had previously planted targeting systems within the building above Nasrallah's bunker, aiding the IDF's F-15I airstrikes. The involvement of Lebanese agents, working amidst active conflict zones, underscores the high risks and sophisticated nature of modern intelligence gathering and execution.