The Shadow Women of Mossad: A Narrative of Unprecedented Female Presence in Covert Operations on Iranian Soil
The Shadow Women of Mossad: A Narrative of Unprecedented Female Presence in Covert Operations on Iranian Soil
According to the IranGate News Agency, recent revelations about Mossad operations during the 12-day war with Iran have emerged as an official narrative or media war. Three months after the 12-day war between Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran, known as one of the most tense direct confrontations in the history of relations between the two sides, Israeli media have recently published a wave of what they call exclusive reports detailing Mossad operations. The release of this information, often highlighting Mossad’s significant role in weakening Iran’s missile and nuclear infrastructure, has simultaneously sparked contrasting reactions at various security and political levels within Israel.
The published reports, including this week’s report by the Jerusalem Post and documents and information revealed by Israel’s Channel 12 and 13, have reconstructed the hidden and tactical dimensions of these operations.
Amidst this, there has been a special emphasis on the participation of women in Mossad’s operational structures and their role in designing and executing intelligence programs against Iran. Recently, Israeli media have released a wave of what they call exclusive revelations about Mossad operations during the 12-day war between Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran. These revelations not only shed light on new dimensions of this organization’s intelligence activities but also highlight the competition among Israeli security agencies to gain credit for the recent military operations.
The 12-Day War and Mossad’s Cross-Border Operations
More than three months have passed since Israel’s intense attacks on Iran, which were carried out to counter what were described as Iran’s nuclear and missile threats.
This 12-day war resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Revolutionary Guards forces, including several senior commanders, as well as the targeted assassination of about 15 nuclear scientists. In addition, dozens of civilians also lost their lives in these clashes.
In this context, the Jerusalem Post, in an exclusive report, claimed that dozens of women members of Mossad participated in these operations, playing key and supervisory roles.
Although this report did not specifically provide details about the nature of these forces’ missions, it spoke of the increasing role of women in Mossad’s covert and cross-border operations, particularly in relation to Iran.
Women’s Presence on the Frontlines of Intelligence Operations
According to the Jerusalem Post, the presence of women in Mossad’s intelligence missions has seen a significant increase in the recent period compared to previous periods.
The newspaper mentioned one of Mossad’s senior female agents, identified only by the initial G or J, and wrote that she played a prominent role in recruiting and directing foreign spies in hostile territories with her special expertise in Iranian affairs.
This agent had previously received the Bold Operation Award from the President of Israel and had appeared with a covered face at the official candle lighting ceremony for Israel’s Independence Day in the spring of 2024.
Thus, the role of women in decision-making and executing complex Mossad missions has become one of the new hallmarks of this organization.
Mossad’s Complex Operations on Iranian Soil
In another part of the report, citing Israeli media sources, including the country’s Channel 13, a network of a small Mossad army inside Iran was mentioned. According to this claim, about one hundred professional agents actively participated in the recent military operations on Iranian soil.
These operations included the transfer and assembly of advanced equipment to counter Iran’s missile systems and were executed using advanced technologies with forces, some of whom had no prior field experience in such operations.
The Jerusalem Post claims that David Barnea, Mossad’s chief, carried out precise and coordinated operations by guiding hundreds of agents inside and outside Iran.
According to this media, Mossad’s initial strike at the start of the war was so effective and dazzling that the Islamic Republic was only able to begin its missile response from the second day.
Mossad’s Intelligence Focus on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities
Israeli media, alongside field reports, have also addressed the intelligence and technical aspects of the operations. According to these sources, Mossad has increased its oversight of Iran’s enriched uranium storage sites and other sensitive nuclear facilities.
The aim of this extensive surveillance is stated to be preparing for re-action in case the Islamic Republic attempts to revive its nuclear program.
Reasons for the Revelations and Reactions Within Israel
Following the release of these revelations, Israeli analysts and former security officials have warned about the consequences of such media actions. Damon Golriz, an analyst of Iranian affairs, stated in an interview with Radio Farda that the targeted publication of these reports in Israeli media is aimed at creating chaos and internal insecurity in Iran.
He assessed these actions as part of a psychological and media war against the Islamic Republic regime.
However, within Israel, there has also been criticism of this approach. Some former military and security officials, including Reserve General Herzi Halevi, former Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, have questioned David Barnea’s actions, stating that the Mossad chief has entered areas beyond his authority in pursuit of personal credit.
According to Halevi, the publication of images of secret operations and media advertisements shows that personal interests have been prioritized over national interests.
Women in Mossad’s Structure from Past to Present
The role of women in Israel’s security and intelligence structure is deep-rooted and historical. Even before the official establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, women had a prominent presence in underground military organizations like Haganah and Palmach, which were fighting for independence from Britain.
This participation was evident not only in logistical areas but also in operational and intelligence sectors.
With the formation of Mossad, this trend continued, but for years women’s access to senior levels of this organization remained limited. However, the gradual transformation in Mossad’s human resources policies, especially in recent decades, has allowed women to reach key and decision-making positions.
Before the summer of 2022, the highest position held by a woman in Mossad was held by Eliza Magen, a woman who had served as the organization’s deputy and passed away in early spring 2024. Additionally, prominent Israeli politician Tzipi Livni has acknowledged that she served in Mossad for four years in her youth, a service later confirmed by Western media.
Significant developments occurred in the summer of 2022 when, for the first time, two women were appointed as heads of Mossad’s sensitive departments. An individual with the initial A, with two decades of experience, took over as head of the intelligence department. At the same time, K was appointed as head of the Iran department, a strategic section tasked with designing and coordinating Mossad operations against the various threats of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Her responsibility was to combine field operations, technology, and intelligence and to create coordination between Mossad, the army, and other Israeli security agencies.
In addition to these two important appointments, two other women were also appointed to senior deputy positions in Mossad. H became the deputy of the intelligence department, and E took the position of deputy of human resources. These appointments for the first time formed a command structure in Mossad with the presence of four women, a structure that indicates a change in the organization’s approach and policy regarding women’s capabilities in the intelligence field.
This trend is not limited to Mossad alone. In Israel’s internal security organization, Shin Bet, women have also appeared in roles beyond analysis and clerical work.
Reports from Western media and local sources show that some of these women have played operational and even commando roles in field operations, especially in the West Bank. Palestinian field testimonies also confirm this.
The increasing presence and influence of women in Israel’s security and intelligence structures on the one hand indicates institutional changes in the country’s intelligence agencies, and on the other hand, has increased the social and international legitimacy of these agencies’ performance.
However, the expansion of this presence, especially in the field of cross-border operations, still faces security and legal challenges that could lead to new discussions at the domestic and international levels.