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.”



4.7 Magnitude Quake Rattles Los Angeles Area

FILE - This aerial view shows the Malibu Pier in Malibu, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
FILE - This aerial view shows the Malibu Pier in Malibu, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
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4.7 Magnitude Quake Rattles Los Angeles Area

FILE - This aerial view shows the Malibu Pier in Malibu, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
FILE - This aerial view shows the Malibu Pier in Malibu, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

A 4.7 magnitude earthquake rattled the Los Angeles area Thursday morning, swaying lamps and jolting some people from bed. No injuries or damages were immediately reported.
The US Geological Survey said the earthquake was centered 4 miles (7 kilometers) north of Malibu and was about 7 miles (11 kilometers) below the surface.
The jolt was felt as far as 45 miles (72 kilometers) away in Orange County, where people reported items moving in their homes, The Associated Press reported.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said fire authorities were surveying the city for damage, as was the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
Rene Vasquez, manager at The Country Kitchen breakfast place in Malibu, said the shaking lasted a few seconds and kitchen staff ducked outside as a precaution, but there was no damage.
“It wasn’t that bad,” Vasquez said. “Thank God nothing fell.”
People, including several celebrities, took to social media to post they were awakened by a jolt.
Hotel heiress and media personality Paris Hilton wrote on X, “That #Earthquake was scary.” Reality TV star Khloe Kardashian posted: “Damn that was a big one.”
Some residents said they were alerted by the state’s earthquake early warning system.
The quake comes as the region has been dealing with three major wildfires burning east of Los Angeles that torched dozens of homes and forced thousands to evacuate. The blazes erupted during a blistering heat wave that has just subsided.
A number of quakes have been felt in the area in recent months, including a 4.4 magnitude earthquake in August that rattled nerves from the Los Angeles area to San Diego, swaying buildings, knocking items off shelves and setting off car alarms. The temblor caused a pipe to burst at the ornate 1927 Pasadena City Hall building.