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Netanyahu and Mossad chief Gofman wanted to carry out the unspecified operation in the days leading up to the Israel polls.
Netanyahu-Mossad Chief’s Secret Iran Operation Before Israel Polls Thwarted By US: Report
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad chief Roman Gofman reportedly planned an operation against Iran shortly before Israel’s October 27 elections, but the United States intervened after learning about the preparations, according to a report by Israeli broadcaster Channel 12, cited by The Times of Israel.
The report claimed that Netanyahu and Gofman wanted to carry out the unspecified operation in the days leading up to the polls. However, several senior officials in Israel’s security establishment reportedly opposed the plan, fearing it could trigger a major escalation with Iran and disrupt the elections.
Despite their concerns, preparations for the operation continued. Channel 12 reported that an Israeli security operative “acted rashly”, resulting in Washington becoming aware of the plans. The US then moved to stop the operation, the broadcaster said. It added that the report was being aired within the restrictions imposed by Israeli military censorship.
Netanyahu’s office rejected the claims, saying, “The prime minister himself clarified in real time that an attack before the Israeli elections was not on the agenda.”
Former PM Ehud Barak alleges Mossad plan
The Channel 12 report also referred to comments made by former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak, a vocal critic of Netanyahu. In an interview with the broadcaster on Thursday, Barak alleged that Netanyahu planned to carry out “a provocation” involving Iran through Mossad, “behind the back of the IDF chief of staff”.
The latest report follows a series of similar accounts that emerged in Israel shortly before the October 27 elections.
At A Glance
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad chief Roman Gofman reportedly planned an operation against Iran prior to the October 27 elections.
The United States intervened to stop the proposed operation after an Israeli security operative leaked the preparations.
Netanyahu’s office rejected the claims, stating that an attack before the elections was never on the agenda.
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly opposed the military action, fearing it could trigger a major escalation with Iran.
On October 25, Channel 12 reported an “unprecedented confrontation” between Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir over an instruction from the prime minister for unspecified military action. Defence officials reportedly feared that the move could trigger a confrontation with Iran.
According to the broadcaster’s anonymous sources, Zamir resisted the instruction and sought further discussions, along with signed documentation from Netanyahu confirming legal authorisation for the operation.
A military source told Channel 12, “This relates to an action that could lead to a flare-up with Iranat a sensitive and dramatic moment, creating this [potential] miscalculation.”
The report also cited unnamed sources who said military leaders were concerned that the political leadership wanted to “utilize the Iranian issue for political benefit“.
Netanyahu denied rift with army chief
Responding to the October 25 report in an interview with Channel 14 that night, Netanyahu dismissed it as “nonsense” and said there was “no fight” with Zamir.
Earlier in the interview, however, he said he had recently “instructed the IDF and Mossad to topple the [Iranian] regime”. The statement did not appear to be linked to the specific military instruction mentioned in the report.
Channel 12 said tensions between Netanyahu and Zamir were also visible during a discussion at Palmahim Airbase, where the atmosphere was described as “extremely sour”. A senior security source told the broadcaster, “History will not forget the role that Zamir has played in recent days.” No further details were provided.
On October 26, a day before the elections, Channels 12 and 13 reported that Zamir was the only Israeli security chief opposing military action sought by Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz. The IDF reportedly feared that such action could trigger an escalation with Iran and derail the elections.
The New York Times also reported on October 26 that Netanyahu had “sought for weeks to orchestrate a new airstrike on Iran” but was blocked by Zamir. According to the newspaper and other media outlets, the army chief did not see an urgent need for an attack before the elections. The newspaper further reported that Zamir had become concerned about Netanyahu pushing for a separate operation short of an overt strike, which he feared could provoke Iran into attacking Israel.
The report about the abandoned operation emerged amid progress in Qatar-mediated negotiations between Washington and Tehran to end the war. However, US President Donald Trump was also reportedly considering restarting military strikes.
Channel 12 reported earlier this week that Netanyahu had urged Trump to resume the war against Iran immediately after the US midterm elections, in which Republicans suffered major losses. Trump, however, reportedly wanted to give diplomatic negotiations with Tehran more time.
Netanyahu is said to be concerned that the negotiations could result in a significant easing of pressure on Iran, while Trump wants Israel to avoid disrupting the diplomatic process for now.
Asked about Iran outside the White House on Friday, Trump told reporters, “We’ve beaten Iran. We are doing very well with Iran. We’re talking to Iran. We haven’t lost a soldier in six or seven months.”
Trump also repeated his claim that Israel and the wider Middle East would not exist today if he had not stopped Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
“Nobody wants to say that, but everybody knows it’s true!” he wrote on Truth Social.
Quick Answers
Ask News18An Israeli security operative acted rashly and exposed preparations for a planned operation against Iran to Washington, prompting the United States to step in and stop it. Senior Israeli security officials had opposed the plan due to fears that it could trigger a major escalation and disrupt the October 27 elections.
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Shuddhanta Patra is an Indian journalist with about nine years of experience in covering national politics, geopolitics, defence, diplomacy and international affairs. Her reporting focuses on South As…Read More
November 07, 2026, 7:38 PM IST
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