Mossad

Mossad
Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations
המוסד למודיעין ולתפקידים מיוחדים
الموساد للاستخبارات والمهام الخاصة
"For want of strategy an army falls, but victory comes with much planning." (Proverbs 11:14)
Agency overview
FormedDecember 13, 1949 (1949-12-13) (as the Central Institute for Coordination)
HeadquartersTel Aviv, Israel
EmployeesClassified (est. 7,000)
Annual budgetClassified (est. US$2.73 billion)
Agency executive
Parent agencyOffice of the Prime Minister
Websitewww.mossad.gov.il

The Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations (Hebrew: המוסד למודיעין ולתפקידים מיוחדים, romanized: ha-Mosád le-Modiʿín u-le-Tafkidím Meyuḥadím), popularly known as Mossad (UK: /ˈmɒsæd/ MOSS-ad, US: /mˈsɑːd/ moh-SAHD), is the national intelligence agency of the State of Israel. It is one of the main entities in the Israeli Intelligence Community, along with Aman (military intelligence) and Shin Bet (internal security).

Mossad is responsible for intelligence collection, covert operations, and counter-terrorism. Its director answers directly and only to the prime minister. Its annual budget is estimated to be around 10 billion (US$2.73 billion), and it is estimated that it employs around 7,000 people, making it one of the world's largest espionage agencies. The organization is alleged to have been involved with many assassination plots across a variety of locations.