Israel’s intelligence chief announces planned departure from Mossad

The head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, David Barnea, is set to step down from his position in June 2026.

The decision was jointly reached by Barnea and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their most recent meeting, Caliber.Az reports, citing Israeli media.

Sources indicate that three contenders are currently under consideration to succeed Barnea: the agency’s deputy director, known by the codename “Alef”; a senior intelligence officer referred to as “Chet,” who has held a key operational post for the past two years; and Major General Roman Gofman, the prime minister’s military secretary.

Barnea has led Mossad for nearly five years and remains the last of Israel’s top security chiefs to have retained his post following the Hamas assault on October 7, 2023.

Among those who have already stepped down are former IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

Unlike those officials, Barnea was not seen as bearing significant responsibility for the October 7 disaster, as it was the IDF and the Shin Bet, and not Mossad, who oversaw intelligence on Gaza.

Barnea has been credited with major operational successes in the two years since the Hamas onslaught, including the exploding-beeper operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon, the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and operations during the 12-day war against Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

When Barnea took office, he told people in private that he viewed thwarting Iran’s nuclear program as his primary responsibility. The spy agency played a central role in the brief June war that saw Israel kill many of Iran’s nuclear scientists and generals, and bombard key facilities.

By Vafa Guliyeva