As assassinations of leaders from Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah continue, questions arise about how the Israeli Mossad executes its assassinations.
The "Qisaria" is a secret operations branch of the Mossad, which oversees the Kidon unit, specializing in elimination and assassination methods. This unit consists of several teams, each comprising approximately 12 individuals. The members of the unit responsible for carrying out operations are multilingual, hold dual citizenships, and work abroad.
Once the identities of the targets are established, their files are transferred to a committee of intelligence agencies, which includes the heads of Israeli intelligence agencies, known by the Hebrew abbreviation "Farash." The assassination orders issued by the Mossad are referred to as the "Red Page," and each order is approved by the Prime Minister and other ministers.
Throughout the history of the Mossad, the methods employed to kill its targets have varied. In 1978, the Mossad killed Wadi Haddad, the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, by poisoning him with toothpaste. A secret agent with access to Haddad's home replaced his regular toothpaste with a similar tube containing poison developed in Israel. Each time Haddad brushed his teeth, the poison entered his bloodstream. Reports indicated that his screams of pain were so loud that he had to be sedated.
As time evolved, the Mossad began to change its assassination tactics, relying on technology. In 2020, the Mossad assassinated Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh by shooting him on a street in Absard, a city near Tehran, using an AI-operated robotic machine gun controlled via satellite. Once his identity was confirmed, the machine fired 15 bullets into his car in three bursts, with such precision that his wife, who was seated in the passenger seat, was unharmed. A bomb was then detonated to destroy the robot to prevent the Iranians from analyzing it.
The recent assassination attempt targeting Ismail Haniyeh followed a series of assassinations in Tehran, carried out by Israel through various methods and styles. Multiple narratives have emerged surrounding the targeting of Haniyeh, with details remaining unclear, particularly since Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the operation so far. Initial reports indicated that the Israelis killed Haniyeh with a bomb detonated remotely at his residence, for which the Iranian Revolutionary Guard was responsible for its security.
