Qatar, Iran backing propaganda war against Israel, claims ex-Mossad officer
Former Mossad officer Sagiv Assulin said Israel is fighting an eighth front in a global propaganda war. He urged coordination with countries including India to counter disinformation and hostile influence operations.
A former Mossad officer has said that Israel is not only engaged in physical battles but is also fighting what he described as an “eighth front” — a global war over perception and propaganda.
Speaking to India Today, Sagiv Assulin said India, too, faces similar misinformation campaigns from Pakistan, and urged countries to work together to counter this emerging threat.
“Israel is fighting on seven physical fronts, but the eighth front is the propaganda and perception war,” he said.
Assulin even suggested the possibility of creating a new Mossad-like multinational framework dedicated specifically to tackling disinformation and hostile influence operations.
'QATAR, IRAN BACKING MISINFORMATION'
He also spoke about Israel’s ongoing military operations against Hamas and Hezbollah, saying the campaign would continue in the coming days.
Referring to protests that broke out across universities and global cities after the October 7 attacks — including demonstrations at Columbia University — Assulin alleged that anti-Israel narratives were being systematically amplified by forces that aim to undermine Western democracies as a whole.
"The eighth front works against western civilisation as well as India. The misinformation is routed through social media and is funded by countries like Iran and Qatar," he alleged.
Iran and Qatar are alleged to be major patrons of Gaza-based Hamas, which led a violent campaign against Israel after the October 7, 2023 attack. Hezbollah, based out of Lebanon, is alleged to be a proxy for Iran.
'ISRAEL STRUGGLED TO COMBAT MISINFORMATION'
Assulin acknowledged that despite Israel’s advanced technological capabilities, it has struggled to effectively counter online misinformation during wartime. He warned that radical elements are attempting to infiltrate democratic systems globally through coordinated influence campaigns.
"There are two radical forces here – Islamists and ultra-woke Leftists. When they come together, it is a threat to everyone," he alleged.
He also cautioned that countries like India could face similar challenges in the future, calling for closer coordination between defence establishments, diaspora groups and civil society organisations to counter such threats.
Assulin further proposed the creation of a broader international framework involving partner nations, including India, to combat global anti-democracy and extremist influence operations.