Ex-Mossad chief joins defense contractor after leading Iran operations

David Barnea, the former head of Israel's foreign intelligence agency Mossad, has taken on a new role as global president of the US-Israeli defense contractor Ondas Defense. The 61-year-old led the Mossad until June of this year, raising questions about the exceptionally short period between his departure from public service and his new position in the private sector.

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David Barnea will be the global president of the US-Israeli defense contractor Ondas Defense.

Born in the coastal city of Ashkelon, Barnea's background includes military service in the elite Sayeret Matkal unit and studies in the United States, followed by work in the financial sector before joining the Mossad in 1996. His leadership at the intelligence agency reportedly involved directing significant operations, including actions against Iran and its strategic partners, the Lebanese militia Hezbollah and the Houthi movement in Yemen.

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The 61-year-old led the Israeli foreign intelligence agency until June of this year. The cooling-off period is therefore extremely short.

The article notes that Barnea's tenure saw him tasked by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pursue an offensive strategy. While the text mentions the failure of Israeli security forces on a specific day, it clarifies that the Palestinian territories were not traditionally within Barnea's operational scope. Unlike the heads of the Shin Bet and military intelligence, who resigned taking responsibility for that particular failure, Barnea's role in that event is not detailed beyond the directive to pursue offensive actions.

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Barnea had the order from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to go on the offensive – against Iran, but also against its strategic junior partner, the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah and the Houthis in Yemen.