Background: The Assassination of a Top Commander
In January 2020, Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed in a United States drone strike near Baghdad International Airport. As the architect of Iran’s regional military strategy, Soleimani was one of the most powerful figures in the Middle East. His assassination, ordered by then-U.S. President Donald Trump, occurred at a peak of tensions between Washington and Tehran and was seen as a major escalation.
Cohen’s Revelation: A Clash Within Israeli Leadership
In an unprecedented disclosure, former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen has revealed that Israel’s non-participation in the assassination was not due to hesitation from then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but because of staunch opposition from senior Israel Defense Forces (IDF) commanders. According to Cohen, the military leadership, particularly then-Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi, exercised “excessive caution,” fearing that Israeli involvement would trigger direct and widespread retaliation from Iran or its proxies, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Strategic Implications and Political Fallout
This revelation highlights a deep rift within Israel’s security and political establishment on how to confront Iranian threats. The military leadership seemingly favored a more cautious approach to avoid an all-out war, while the political echelon, represented by Netanyahu and Cohen, may have been more willing to take greater risks. Cohen’s remarks also serve as a direct rebuttal to accusations from Donald Trump, who had called Netanyahu a “coward” for backing out of the operation. By placing the responsibility on the IDF, Cohen aims to exonerate Netanyahu and defend his record on countering Iran.
Conclusion
Yossi Cohen‘s disclosure reveals that Israel’s decision to stay out of the Soleimani operation was driven by the IDF’s risk assessment, not a lack of political will. This offers a rare glimpse into the complex internal dynamics and power struggles that shape Israel’s critical national security decisions, particularly regarding its ongoing conflict with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
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