Archive · 20 Jun 2025
Mossad's Failed Saddam Hussein Assassination Attempt & Tze'elim Bet Disaster
In 1992, Israel's secret service, Mossad, tried to kill Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
The plan, called 'Operation Bramble Bush', was to attack Saddam at a public event.
Before the real mission, they practiced with live missiles.
Sadly, during this practice, a mistake happened.
A missile was fired at the Israeli team by accident, killing some soldiers and hurting others.
Because of this accident, the plan to kill Saddam was canceled.
The accident highlighted problems in planning and safety, and became known as the Tze'elim Bet disaster.
Israel's Mossad planned to assassinate Saddam Hussein in 1992, but the operation failed.
The mission, codenamed 'Operation Bramble Bush', targeted Saddam at a funeral in Tikrit.
A live-fire rehearsal of the assassination attempt led to the Tze'elim Bet disaster.
During the rehearsal, a missile was mistakenly fired at the Israeli team.
The incident resulted in the death of five elite soldiers and injuries to six others.
- Who
- Israel's Mossad planned the assassination, and the commando unit Sayeret Matkal was involved. Saddam Hussein was the target.
- What
- A failed Mossad operation to assassinate Saddam Hussein, leading to the Tze'elim Bet disaster.
- When
- The assassination attempt was planned for 1992; the rehearsal disaster occurred on November 5, 1992.
- Where
- The assassination was planned in Tikrit, Iraq; the rehearsal took place in the Negev Desert, Israel.
- Why
- Israel viewed Saddam Hussein as a threat after the 1991 Gulf War, aiming to eliminate his threat with weapons of mass destruction.
- Operation Name
- Operation Bramble Bush
- Target
- Saddam Hussein
- Year of Plan
- 1992
- Location of Target
- Tikrit, Iraq
- Rehearsal Location
- Negev Desert, Israel
- Rehearsal Disaster Name
- Tze'elim Bet disaster
- Fatalities in Disaster
- 5 soldiers