How Israel’s Operation to Kill Saddam Hussein Ended in Tragedy
In the aftermath of the 1991 Gulf War, Israel considered Iraq’s Saddam Hussein an unpredictable and severe threat. Despite not being directly involved in the war, Israel endured multiple Scud missile attacks launched by Iraq, fueling fears over Saddam’s growing arsenal of weapons of mass destruction. This tension sparked an ambitious covert plan that ultimately ended in disaster.
The Bold Plan: Operation Bramble Bush
Dubbed Operation Bramble Bush, the mission aimed to eliminate Saddam Hussein during a public event in his hometown of Tikrit. Israel’s most elite unit, Sayeret Matkal, was tasked with the operation. The commandos would disguise themselves as locals and infiltrate the area to ambush Saddam’s convoy using shoulder-fired missiles at a funeral gathering. Mossad supplied critical intelligence, and the operation had the backing of Israel’s military leadership.
The Tragic Rehearsal: Tze'elim Bet Disaster
On November 5, 1992, the unit gathered in the Negev Desert for a live-fire drill simulating the attack. Tragically, due to a grave error, one operative fired a live missile toward his own team, killing five seasoned commandos and injuring six others. The catastrophe, later known as the Tze'elim Bet disaster, exposed serious flaws in operational planning and risk management.
The mission was swiftly aborted, and just two days later, Israeli authorities officially canceled Operation Bramble Bush. The deaths remained classified and concealed from the public for years.
Echoes of the Past in Today’s Middle East
Fast forward more than three decades, Israel confronts a similar existential threat—not in Baghdad but in Tehran. Recent precision strikes have targeted Iran’s top military figures and nuclear scientists, signaling a shift from covert assassinations to overt military actions.
- High-ranking Iranian commanders, including the IRGC chief and aerospace commander, have been eliminated.
- Key nuclear sites across Iran have suffered damage.
- Israeli leadership openly labels the Iranian regime an "existential threat."
Unlike Operation Bramble Bush's secrecy, Israel’s current campaign is publicly acknowledged, with Prime Minister Netanyahu declaring the fight is against the oppressive regime, not the Iranian people.
Lessons Learned and the Weight of History
The tragic failure of Operation Bramble Bush serves as a sobering reminder of the risks inherent in intelligence operations and the human cost behind covert warfare. It also reflects the enduring complexity of Middle Eastern geopolitics, where historical vendettas and security concerns persist decades later.
As the region faces renewed tensions, the shadow of past missions lingers—underscoring the delicate balance between pre-emptive security measures and the perils they entail.
