Israel plans to eliminate Hamas leaders around the world, and the country's long history of carrying out such operations against terrorists proves its capabilities, foreign policy and defense experts tell the Daily -Told the Caller News Foundation.

Israel on Tuesday allegedly assassinated senior Hamas leader Salih al-Aruri in a targeted drone strike in Lebanon, prompting the country to launch a global elimination campaign against high-ranking Hamas operatives and leaders. The vocal efforts of The operation will be carried out in part by the Israeli military and in part by the country's extensive intelligence services, such as Mossad, which has carried out similar assassination plots successfully in recent decades. according to To the Wall Street Journal. (Related: Hamas official dies in Lebanon explosion)

“Mossad is a premier intelligence agency that is extremely capable at gathering and analyzing information and conducting covert operations,” Mick Mulroy, a former defense official and CIA militia officer, told DCNF. “They have very long memories and long reach as well.”

The scene of the explosion that killed Saleh al-Arouri and others. pic.twitter.com/GY9CLZDiM3

— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) January 2, 2024

After the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) counterattack against Hamas in the Gaza Strip ends, Israel will begin pursuing Hamas officials in more targeted operations across the Middle East, including Qatar, Russia, Turkey, Iran, and Lebanon, WSJ reported. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assigned this mission to Mossad, more formally known as the Institute for Special Missions in Intelligence. according to To the Jewish Virtual Library.

“I have directed the Mossad to confront Hamas leaders wherever they are,” Netanyahu said in a speech in December, according to the WSJ. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also said in the same speech that Hamas leaders were living on “borrowed time” and were “in danger of death.” Mossad Director David Balnea reiterated those comments again on Wednesday. according to In the Guardian newspaper.

According to the Jewish Virtual Library, Mossad was founded in 1949 as Israel's top intelligence agency, responsible for international stealth missions such as counterterrorism, psychological warfare, and assassination and rescue operations. Mossad's primary purpose is to monitor threats from states and groups throughout the Middle East seeking the destruction of Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been openly vocal about Israel and Mossad's intentions to kill Hamas leaders globally, but most of the targeted operations are carried out in secret and are difficult for the country to publicly admit. There are almost no For example, Israel has yet to officially acknowledge that it was behind Tuesday's assassination of al-Aruri.

“Israel never takes credit for someone falling down or something exploding,” Shoshana Brien, a defense analyst and senior director at the Jewish Policy Center, told DCNF. Ta. “But sometimes we have evidence of Israel's capabilities.”

Brien referenced an example in 2009 when Mossad operatives allegedly targeted senior Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mabhou and killed him by lethal injection in a Dubai hotel room. Israel never claimed responsibility, but according to To WIRED. In another example a year ago, Mossad worked with the CIA to assassinate Hezbollah's international operations chief Imad Mughniyah, who was responsible for terrorist attacks on the U.S. embassy in Beirut and the Israeli embassy in Argentina. Mughniyah was killed in Damascus when a bomb placed in the spare tire of his car exploded. according to In the Washington Post. (Related: Biden bypasses Congress again on arms sales to Israel)

Mulroy noted that Mossad's cooperation with the CIA would expand the scope and effectiveness of its assassination operations against Hamas. “The CIA and Mossad have a very close relationship. Together, there are few, if any, places the October 7th terrorists could hide to avoid detection,” Mulroy told DCNF. .

There were a number of indications today from the Israel Defense Forces, Shin Bet, and Mossad regarding targeted killing operations against Hamas members. pic.twitter.com/8BXI89ojMn

— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) December 3, 2023

Mulroy recalled one of Mossad's most notable dubious operations following the 1972 Munich Olympics terrorist attacks. In the operation, Palestinian extremists took 11 Israeli athletes and coaches hostage, who were ultimately executed. according to In the New York Times. In response, then-Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir assigned the Mossad the task of tracking down and killing those responsible. The work took several years and spanned countries including Italy, France, Cyprus and Greece. according to Go to NPR.

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The 1972 Munich Olympic attacks and the Mossad's subsequent response were depicted in the 2005 film “Munich.”,” Directed by Steven Spielberg.

Israel and Mossad have come under intense scrutiny for carrying out sometimes unsuccessful operations. According to NPR, during the 1972 Munich attack, Mossad operatives mistakenly assassinated a waiter in Norway, believing him to be a Palestinian extremist. Israeli intelligence reportedly knew of Hamas' plans for October 7, but has also been criticized for failing to act in advance, believing the terrorist group was incapable of carrying out the attack. according to To the New York Times.

According to WSJ, Israel has carried out more than 2,700 assassination operations worldwide since World War II. Israel and Mossad have been hunting down and killing Hamas militants for decades, but their efforts intensified in the wake of the October 7 attack.

“This is exactly the area where Israeli intelligence and security services are proving they have quality when surrounded by quantity,” said Benham Ben-Tableau, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. told DCNF. “While its methods and means of trade will likely remain secret, Israel's ability to infiltrate or monitor hostile terrorist networks around the region represents a significant advance for Israel.”

“If I were a Hamas terrorist, I would think that I would be discovered and die that day in Gaza or somewhere else,” Brien told DCNF.

The Israeli Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to DCNF's request for comment.

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