Mossad and IDF Clash Over Iran Strategy Ahead of Elections
Tensions have resurfaced between Israeli intelligence and military leadership, with the Mossad pushing for a joint US operation while the IDF warns against strikes during a sensitive political period.
By Marina Weber ·
Israeli defense institutions are experiencing a resurgence of internal conflict regarding their approach to Iran. Sources indicate that sharp disagreements between the Mossad and the Israel Defense Forces have become the standard operating mode, effectively ending a period of unity that persisted from 2023 to 2025.
The current dispute centers on the timing and scope of a potential joint operation with the United States. Mossad Director Roman Gofman advocates for an aggressive push to strike Iran before Israeli elections, aligning with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In contrast, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir opposes the move, citing the risks of military action during a fragile political moment.
According to sources close to the Mossad, recent reports from Channel 12 claiming Gofman supported a specific operation in the immediate past were inaccurate. The core of the debate involves strategic priorities rather than a single event. Gofman is focused on capitalizing on a limited window for a joint offensive with Washington. Zamir fears that an attack during the election season could undermine the legitimacy of the operation and provide Netanyahu with a political weapon against rivals.
The disagreement is not absolute, as both leaders acknowledge circumstances where their stances would reverse. Zamir would support a strike under certain conditions, while Gofman might oppose one in others. However, the general trend shows the Mossad favoring decisive action while the IDF maintains caution regarding political timing.
This division follows a period of cooperation in June 2025 and early 2026, when both agencies backed major operations against Iran. Prior to that, in 2023 and 2024, both sides preferred to delay major attacks to allow for fuller preparation. The most recent friction emerged during the early 2026 operation, where then Mossad director David Barnea pushed for plans involving the Kurds and former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to achieve regime change. The IDF remained skeptical of these short-term regime change goals, a position that has persisted under Gofman.
Historical records show this rivalry is long-standing. In 2022, the two bodies debated the wisdom of returning to the 2015 nuclear deal. In 2018, the Mossad wanted the US to leave the agreement, while the IDF preferred to stay until 2024. The earliest recorded dispute dates to 2010 and 2012, when both agencies opposed Netanyahu and defense minister Ehud Barak’s plans to strike Iran’s nuclear program, warning it would destabilize the region before Iran achieved a weapon.
