Katz's position on Mossad's Kurds vs Iranian regime plan unclear after conflicting statements

What Happened

On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz expressed skepticism about a Mossad plan to partner with Iranian and Iraqi Kurdish forces to topple Iran's regime, during a briefing with military reporters. Asked whether he had supported the plan, Katz frowned and offered no endorsement, contrasting with top Mossad officials who claimed the operation could have succeeded had US President Donald Trump not vetoed it. Some officials recalled Katz previously showing strong support, aligning with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's reported enthusiasm. The Mossad plan involved providing the Kurds with a no-fly zone, sustained aerial fire support, and weapons—many captured by the IDF from Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon—to advance against Iranian forces. A debate persists over whether Trump's veto stemmed from US officials' advice or Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's influence, though CIA Director John Ratcliffe never openly opposed it to Israel and the CIA supplied weapons to the Kurds.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The episode reveals fissures within Israel's security establishment over covert operations and the use of Kurdish proxies against Iran. It highlights the decisive influence of US presidential approval on Israeli covert actions and the potential for diverging threat perceptions. Leaking the plan risks straining ties with Turkey, a NATO ally opposed to Kurdish autonomy, and could provoke Iranian retaliation or further expose Israel's regional operations.

Watch For

Monitor for statements from Kurdish officials, Iran, or Turkey reacting to the disclosed plan; any impact on US-Israel coordination, especially under a new administration; and whether Katz's skepticism signals a policy shift away from supporting Kurdish-led regime change in Iran.