Israeli Mossad Hires Woman to Lead Battle against Iran

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz chairs a meeting of senior military leaders, the Mossad and general security on August 7, 2022. (dpa)
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz chairs a meeting of senior military leaders, the Mossad and general security on August 7, 2022. (dpa)
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Israeli Mossad Hires Woman to Lead Battle against Iran

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz chairs a meeting of senior military leaders, the Mossad and general security on August 7, 2022. (dpa)
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz chairs a meeting of senior military leaders, the Mossad and general security on August 7, 2022. (dpa)

The Israeli Mossad appointed a woman as deputy chief of the intelligence agency that handles operations against Iran.

The new official joins another woman, who is in charge of the information collection and analysis department, with Iran being one of the main targets.

With that, the Mossad has now tasked women with leading the battle against Iran.

The agency currently runs Israeli operations against Tehran, including collecting intelligence, carrying out assassinations and strikes that the foreign media largely attributes to Israel.

A recent report revealed that women make up 40 percent of the Mossad.

The Mossad issued a statement, for the first time in its history, to announce the appointments.

It did not reveal the name of the two women, but referred to them with the first letter of their first names.

A., took up her role recently as head of the Mossad’s Intelligence Department, which is equal to the level of the head of Military Intelligence in the Israeli army, reported the Jerusalem Post.

She will be tasked with the formation of the strategic intelligence picture at the national level on a series of topics, including the Iranian nuclear threat, global terrorism and normalization with the Arab world.

The second woman, K., was appointed to head the Iran Department.

She is responsible for the organization’s “strategy against the Iranian threat in all its forms” and for coordinating between the operational, technological and intelligence branches of the Mossad in conjunction with the army and other relevant security branches, the statement said.

The Mossad’s Intelligence Department, currently managed by two women, A. and her deputy, H., is considered one of the organization’s core anchors and growth engines, added the Post.

Mossad chief David Barnea welcomed the move, saying, “as soon as one enters the gates of the organization, there is complete equality between men and women. Many women serve in all roles in operations, as agents and operators of agents, and are integrated into the core of operations and intelligence, with talent, professionalism and energy.”



Ukraine Says Russia Hit Vessel Carrying Ukrainian Grain to Egypt in Black Sea

A view shows a damaged civilian cargo vessel, carrying wheat grain to Egypt, which was hit by a Russian missile strike after it left Ukrainian maritime border in the Black Sea, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, September 12, 2024. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS
A view shows a damaged civilian cargo vessel, carrying wheat grain to Egypt, which was hit by a Russian missile strike after it left Ukrainian maritime border in the Black Sea, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, September 12, 2024. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS
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Ukraine Says Russia Hit Vessel Carrying Ukrainian Grain to Egypt in Black Sea

A view shows a damaged civilian cargo vessel, carrying wheat grain to Egypt, which was hit by a Russian missile strike after it left Ukrainian maritime border in the Black Sea, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, September 12, 2024. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS
A view shows a damaged civilian cargo vessel, carrying wheat grain to Egypt, which was hit by a Russian missile strike after it left Ukrainian maritime border in the Black Sea, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, September 12, 2024. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS

Ukraine accused Russia on Thursday of using strategic bombers to hit a civilian grain vessel with a missile in the Black Sea in NATO member Romania's maritime economic zone, in what it described as a "brazen attack" on freedom of navigation.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the vessel carrying Ukrainian grain to Egypt had been hit by a Russian missile just after it exited Ukrainian territorial waters, and that there were no casualties according to a preliminary assessment.

If confirmed, the incident would mark a sharp increase in tensions between Moscow and the NATO military alliance, which has tried to tack a course between fears of escalation and supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia since Moscow's invasion in February 2022, according to Reuters.

British maritime security company Ambrey said in a note that a Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged bulk carrier had been struck by a Russian-launched missile after departing from the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk in Ukraine's Odesa region.

The vessel sustained damage to its port side, including a cargo hold and a crane, it said.

Traders said the incident had contributed to stronger wheat prices by adding to concern over tightening supply in the Black Sea export zone. US futures rose as much as 2% to hit a two-month peak.

Zelenskiy posted images showing the twisted metal of a damaged crane and other damage.

An industry source told Reuters the strike had taken place overnight not far from the mouth of the Danube river. Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesman for Ukraine's navy, told Reuters, the vessel was in Romania's maritime economic zone.

Romania's Naval Authority said the vessel had not been in its territorial waters and that its assistance had not been requested in any way.

Zelenskiy wrote on X: "We are waiting for the world to react. Wheat and food security should never be targets for missiles."

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the strike "a brazen attack on freedom of navigation and global food security."

Ukraine is a major global grain exporter that has had to battle Russia in the Black Sea to revive its exports through its sea ports since Russia's invasion imposed a de facto blockade.