Roman Hoffman has become the new head of the Israeli foreign intelligence service Mossad. The Times of Israel reported this on June 2.
Hoffmann officially took office during a ceremony in Jerusalem after completing the lengthy legal procedures surrounding his appointment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the ceremony that the main challenge for the new head of the intelligence service will be countering Iran. According to him, Israel will not allow Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons and will continue its policy of containing Iranian influence in the region.
Netanyahu also stressed that the Mossad will remain a key instrument in this fight.
In his first statement in office, Hoffman emphasized that Israel's actions against the Iranian “axis” have already changed the balance of power in the Middle East, but the tasks of the intelligence service are not yet completed. He promised to continue covert operations and strengthen efforts against threats to the security of the state.
Hoffman became the 14th head of the Mossad. According to Euronews, Hoffman was born in Belarus, but moved to Israel at the age of 14. He served in the Israeli army for more than three decades, primarily in armored units, holding command and staff positions.
He was seriously wounded during an attack by the Hamas terrorist group on October 7, 2023. After recovery, he became Netanyahu’s military secretary and adviser and participated in the strategic planning of operations, in particular in the areas of Iran, Lebanon, Gaza and Syria.
The media notes that this appointment was atypical for the Israeli intelligence system, since Hoffman came from the army environment, and not from the Mossad structure itself.
