Report: Mossad hacked Syrian computer to uncover nuke site
Mossad agents planted malware on Syrian official's computer while he was at London hotel, Der Spiegel reports.
By Ofer Aderet Tags: North Korea Israel Mossad Israel news Syria nuclearIsrael's Mossad espionage agency used Trojan Horse programs to gather intelligence about a nuclear facility in Syria the Israel Defense Forces destroyed in 2007, the German magazine Der Spiegel reported Monday.
According to the magazine, Mossad agents in London planted the malware on the computer of a Syrian official who was staying in the British capital; he was at a hotel in the upscale neighborhood of Kensington at the time.
The program copied the details of Syria's illicit nuclear program and sent them directly to the Mossad agents' computers, the report said.
Israel's September 6, 2007, raid on the al-Kabir site in Syria's eastern desert is said to have knocked out the country's reportedly nearly-completed reactor.
Israel has refused from the beginning to comment on, confirm or deny the strike, but after a delay of several months Washington presented intelligence purporting to show the target was a reactor being built with North Korean help.
Der Spiegel further reported on Monday that prior to the strike, the IDF Military Intelligence unit, 8200, listened in on conversations between officials at the Syrian reactor and North Korean experts.
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
It's highly doubtful you'll be anywhere near the front lines where the action is You'll be hiding in your cellar wearing a diaper
You just another dreamer Hehehehehe dream on ???
What have you been on???. One think you right. To you and all the ones who wont Israel to disapire."enjoy whatever time left for you in "Palestine" beckose if you continue yours stupid behavior there wont be anything to remember of so coaled Palestine.Yours writing is a typical of Arabs for the past 62 years, threatening, threatening, but so far where are you now? You are just a bag full of air as usual, what are you going to do? trow stones at Israelis and visitors, you have been doing this so far and what? ISRAEL IS HERE TO STAY, GET USED TO IT.Not better for all the ppl who coll them self's Pal to reconsider they hate policy and start to live like a normal human being, are you normal human being? so far I don't think so.
Ever notice that every time an Arab discusses peace with Israel, theres always a hint of a threat of violence somewhere? Doesn't that tell us how to best deal with them?
"Let`s just say that France ignored the German threat in two World Wars, Israel decided not to ignore the Iranian and took measures" Hmmm. Let us not forget that France defeated Germany in WWI and after a fiasco in 1940 ended up occupying Berlin with the United States Russia and Britain. In neither case did they ignore the German threat although they made a bit of a mess of things in WW2. In both cases they were careful not to give the impression that they were acting agressively because after their war mongering in the Franco Prussian war in 1870 which they started and defintiely lost they realised how much their agressivity had cost them in their relations with other nations.
whether true or not. "Those who do not know talk, while those who do remain silent."
To 24 As long as the sun and the moon are in the sky Israel will be there. God said so.
Great job done by Israel.
How long more you jews will continue to occupy palestine ? another 5 years ...10 years ...I don't think its any longer than 20 years , pack your luggage now and leave back to your native country "safely" or get prepeared for the "unthinkable"... it will be an ugly sceen when israel is defeated , I dont wish to see "this" even to my enemies ...If you people dont wish this to happen think pre-inptively, give back westbank . jerusalem , golan heights immediately ...peace .
Mossad is no longer secret organization? To me it is a bit of info --interesting but not really necessary; for Syrian, Egyptians, Iranian, this information is invaluable. In this edition of Haaretz I also read about a Soviet spy getting away with spying on Israel why making his way up the ladder (being killed by mafia competition doesn't count) and then this. Any new incidents of misplaced laptops with military plans on them, lately, I asking?
In fact, it was a North Korean reactor built by North Koreans. Notice how, when the reactor was bombed, North Korea went ballistic. Kind of funny considering the Syrians denied any such building existed, certainly not anything from North Korea. Lots of othet tie-ins too numerous for here.
Israel has always been lucky that it's enemies are so moronic. Once again Syria shows its incompetence and thank G-d for that!
What a load of tosh. At one time I used to respect the IDF/Shin Beth?Mossad because they appeared competent. These days, no ways. They have spent too long beating up unarmed Palestinians to be any good anymore.
some people are very smart; others are not so smart.
Including inside Turkey! As Long as Israel Has Nukes, Arabs and Persians are catching on very fast. Israelis will be safe when Palestinians and Arabs Lands are gotten back, this generation or the 10th from now.
Its to hollywoodish!The more I watch tv/movies the more things talk?????Spies...
Anti-virus won't do much good, entry can be made through the back door which every computer has and your AV won't notice
Does anybody really believe this? Reminds me of that other Iranian notebook with drawings for a nuclear warhead...
Let's just say that France ignored the German threat in two World Wars, Israel decided not to ignore the Iranian and took measures
Actually, Israel and Syria have been technically in a constant state of (mostly cold) war since 1948. Therefore the Israeli strike on a military target does not constitute any breach of international law (if that is what you were insinuating).
Right on!!!!! A job well done Israel. Thank you.
OUTSTANDING!!!
supposed to be secret? Go figure.
YOU ARE CORRECT, BUT THE LEFT HATES THIS KIND OF NEWS BECAUSE IT VIEWS ANY HEROIC ACT THAT ISRAEL DOES IN SAVING THE WORLD & MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR DICTATOSHIPE & IGNORANCE TO ARISE AS AN ABOMINATION & EVIL.
Mossad, Good job. Keep it up !
As usual it is quite impossible to know whether this story is a planted lie or true. Why reveal what spy ware can do? Once again a convenient portable computer. Was it really a nuclear site? It was as sure as hell an act of war.
It was around that time that the US came to some sort of agreement giving North Korea some of the things that they wanted and needed. I wonder if it wasn't the North Koreans themselves who passed along pertinent information.
Thank you, IDF. Keep up the good work. The most moral army in the world. Everyone thanked you after Osirak, and they silently thank you again now. And will thank you when Iran's operation is completed.
I get really confused about this sort of thing. Am I right in saying that if you just keep quiet about these things, and refuse to either deny or confirm them, you get away with them?? It seems a bit ridiculous?? Imagine this as a headline on national news: "North Korea Help Syria Build Covert Nuclear Reactor that Israel Destorys in Bombing Mission - No International Response Expected As Syria Keep Quiet" Ridiculous.
to Turkey. This will obviously harm Syrian-Turkish relations.