Key Takeaway: Mossad Director David Barnea warned that Iran, ISIS and allied jihadist groups are intensifying efforts to target Jewish communities worldwide. The warning followed the Bondi Beach Hanukkah attack in Australia, which killed 15 and was reportedly inspired by Islamic State ideology. Barnea said Mossad had warned Australian authorities months earlier and linked Iran’s use of terrorism to its pursuit of nuclear capability, urging continued international cooperation to counter the transnational threat.
Mossad Chief Warns Iran, ISIS Escalating Global Campaign Against Jews After Bondi Hanukkah Massacre
A masked Islamic State terrorist poses holding the ISIS flag in 2015.
Israel’s national intelligence chief, Mossad Director David Barnea, warned that Iran, ISIS and allied jihadist actors remain determined to target Jewish communities around the world. Speaking days after the deadly Hanukkah attack at Bondi Beach, Barnea vowed the Mossad would pursue those responsible "wherever they flee" and insisted that "justice will be done and justice will be seen."
A global threat, officials say
Barnea described the Bondi Beach massacre as part of a broader and persistent threat. He said: "The criminal idea of terrorism targeting innocent civilians has been and remains a cornerstone of the security strategy of the current Iranian regime." He also warned that "jihadist elements, ISIS and others, have resolved to target every Jew in the world."
Details of the Bondi attack
The assault at a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach left 15 people dead and dozens more wounded. Australian authorities have said the shooters were inspired by Islamic State ideology, and investigators recovered homemade ISIS banners inside the attackers’ vehicle.
Warnings and disruption efforts
A French riot policeman stands guard outside the Paris Synagogue, two days after security measures have been reinforced near Jewish temples and schools, on Oct. 9, 2023.
Israeli intelligence sources told reporters that the Mossad had alerted Australian authorities to Iranian-linked activity months before the attack, and that the danger is transnational rather than confined to a single country. A senior Israeli official summarized the evolving landscape bluntly: "Today it’s ISIS. Tomorrow it’s Iran," noting that multiple extremist actors operate in overlapping arenas.
"If you knew how many terror attacks the Mossad has prevented, you would drop your jaw," a senior Israeli source said, stressing the agency’s role in identifying or disrupting alleged plots across Europe, Africa and Asia.
Connection to Iran’s strategic goals
Barnea framed Tehran’s use of terrorism as intertwined with its broader strategic ambitions, including a drive toward nuclear capability. "They will sprint toward nuclear weapons the moment they are able to," he warned, adding that the idea of developing a nuclear bomb "is still alive in their hearts." Barnea said Israel has a responsibility to prevent the revival of Iran’s nuclear project and credited close cooperation with the United States for significantly damaging Iran’s program to date.
Calls for a tougher response
The Bondi attack has renewed calls in Washington for a firmer counterterrorism posture. Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.) told media outlets that the U.S. must "stay on offense" and cited prior efforts to degrade ISIS leadership and constrain Iran’s nuclear progress as examples of effective deterrence.
Resilience and next steps
Barnea expressed solidarity with the victims’ families and emphasized Jewish resilience: "Our spirit will not be broken. We will continue to celebrate our holidays and live our lives in Israel and around the world." As investigations continue in Australia and elsewhere, Israeli officials maintain that the Bondi massacre underscores an active, adaptive and global terror threat driven by both Iran-linked networks and jihadist ideology.
