Mossad Shifts Focus to ‘Influence Warfare’ Against Iran, Israeli Media Reports
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the Israeli newspaper ‘Israel Hayom’ has disclosed new dimensions of the Zionist regime’s plots against Iran, highlighting a significant evolution in the Mossad‘s operational methods. The report indicates that Mossad’s approach has been transforming for years, moving away from its traditional focus on assassinations and military operations to a strategy known as “influence warfare,” designed to weaken the Iranian system internally.
The newspaper’s report details the establishment of a specialized unit within Mossad called the “Influence Operations Division.” This unit was formed as part of organizational reforms under the leadership of Mossad Chief David Barnea, with the specific aim of “targeting the political and social depth of Iran, not just its military structure.”
The Israeli daily’s investigation delves into the intelligence service’s efforts to tarnish the image of Iranian officials. It states that through media campaigns and public pressure, the service endeavors to oust adversaries of Tel Aviv from their positions without resorting to physical elimination.
This approach relies on the utilization of media, social networks, public sources, and even the creation of fake accounts to disseminate targeted content within Iran. The objective is to erode public trust in the leadership and portray the system as fragile.
Citing a former official from the unit, the newspaper emphasizes that this type of operation is less costly than assassinations and can yield greater long-term impact by targeting Iran’s “psychological and media security.”.
According to the report, Mossad’s activities extend beyond mere intelligence gathering; the agency is actively analyzing public sentiment within Iran and exploiting social and economic grievances to generate increasing internal pressure on the government.
Israel Hayom writes that the unit has developed advanced digital tools in recent years, including “digital armies” and “fake accounts,” to damage the reputation of Iranian officials. This includes significant collaboration with media outlets of opposition groups abroad to broadcast messages aimed at undermining the government’s image in Tehran.
The Israeli media outlet acknowledges that despite these efforts, the Iranian system has remained resilient. The notion of its “rapid overthrow,” as claimed in some circles, has not materialized, indicating the limitations of the intelligence service’s strategy.
The article concludes by asserting that the confrontation with Iran is no longer solely military but has evolved into a protracted conflict employing multifaceted tools, combining intelligence warfare, psychological operations, and efforts to influence Iranian public opinion towards gradual political change.
