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.”



Military Official: China to 'Crush' Foreign Encroachment in South China Sea

People walk past a sign of the 11th Xiangshan Forum at the Beijing International Convention Center on September 12, 2024. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)
People walk past a sign of the 11th Xiangshan Forum at the Beijing International Convention Center on September 12, 2024. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)
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Military Official: China to 'Crush' Foreign Encroachment in South China Sea

People walk past a sign of the 11th Xiangshan Forum at the Beijing International Convention Center on September 12, 2024. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)
People walk past a sign of the 11th Xiangshan Forum at the Beijing International Convention Center on September 12, 2024. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)

China will "crush" any foreign incursion into its sovereign territory including in the South China Sea, a senior Beijing military official said Thursday on the sidelines of a defense forum.

Washington and Beijing have verbally sparred over China's increasingly assertive approach in disputed maritime regions, including the South China Sea.

In recent months, Chinese vessels have engaged in a series of high-profile confrontations with Philippine ships in the waters, which Beijing claims almost in their entirety despite an international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

Speaking to a small group of journalists including AFP at the Xiangshan forum, Chinese army Lieutenant General He Lei said: "We hope that the South China Sea will remain a sea of peace."

But, he said, "if the United States moves its pawns behind the scenes, if it pushes countries to the front line, or if the United States itself ends up on the front line, then we in the Chinese People's Liberation Army... will never have any patience.”

"We in the Chinese People's Liberation Army will resolutely crush any foreign hostile encroachment on China's territorial, sovereign and maritime rights and interests with firm determination, staunch will, strong capability and effective means," He said.

On Wednesday, China and the Philippines held what they called "candid" talks on South China Sea issues, in particular over a disputed reef that has become a hotspot for recent bilateral clashes.

"Both sides agreed to continue discussions on areas of cooperation, especially on hotline mechanisms, coast guard cooperation, and marine scientific and technological cooperation," a readout from the Philippine foreign ministry said.

And on Thursday, Lieutenant General He said a resolution to tensions between Beijing and Washington over the issue "depends on the United States.”

He also confirmed that US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Chase would attend this week's Xiangshan forum in Beijing.

"I hope that during his visit, during his meetings here, Michael Chase will listen more to the voices of China and the Chinese military," he said.

"The message we are sending to the United States is that we want the two countries and armies to be partners, to be friends, we want to pursue China-US relations featuring win-win cooperation," he said.

"We want the United States to make more contributions to regional and world peace, security and stability," he added.

Scores of delegates were in the Chinese capital Thursday for the Xiangshan forum, dubbed China's answer to Singapore's annual "Shangri-La" meeting.

It is set to host more than 500 representatives from over 90 countries and international organisations, organisers have said.

Official speeches are expected on Friday, when the forum's opening ceremony will take place and top military representatives from Russia, Pakistan, Singapore, Iran, Germany and others will participate in roundtable discussions.