Former Mossad chief Meir Dagan dies at age 71

Meir Dagan, a former Israeli general and longtime director of its spy agency, has died. He was 71.

Dagan directed the Mossad from 2002 to 2011. Under his leadership, the Mossad reportedly carried out covert attacks against Iranian nuclear scientists and unleashed cyberattacks, including the Stuxnet virus that delayed the Iranian nuclear program.

During his term, the Mossad also reportedly assassinated key figures like Hezbollah commander Imad Mughniyeh and prominent Hamas military wing official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.

After he stepped down, Dagan was also a fierce opponent of a military strike in Iran. He openly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's opposition to the recently implemented nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

Born in 1945 in Ukraine to Holocaust survivors, Dagan reached the rank of general in the Israeli army and was known for innovations in battling terrorism.

Four years ago, Dagan was diagnosed with liver cancer.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu eulogized Dagan on Thursday, saying: "Meir was a bold fighter and commander who contributed enormously to national security throughout Israel's wars, be it in the counterterrorism bureau or later on as the head of the Mossad. Meir was determined to ensure that the people of Israel will never again be defenseless or powerless, and he dedicated his life to building Israel's strength.

"During his time as the head of the Mossad, Dagan led the organization in bold, groundbreaking operations."

President Reuven Rivlin also remarked on Dagan's death, saying: "Meir was one of the bravest, greatest and most imaginative fighters that the Jewish people had ever seen. His dedication to the State of Israel was absolute. He viewed Israel's best interests as his own and did everything in his power to ensure its existence for many generations to come. To many, Meir Dagan, the 'giant of giants' as he has been described, represented the Holocaust and the subsequent resurrection of Israel. I knew Meir as a man of good counsel, a wise man, a man who loved others and was loved despite his grit, a leader and a common man."

Opposition Leader Isaac Herzog said: "Meir was a hero who fought our enemies and those who seek our destruction with the same great courage that he displayed while fighting for the peace he longed for. I share the terrible grief felt by Meir's family and friends. He fought his illness for a long time, with the strength and will of a hero. May his memory and the memory of his deeds be a blessing."

Dagan is survived by his wife and three children.

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