Firstly, I am using this as a professional example of how operations can go wrong and how both sides made mistakes. I am not Israeli or Palestinian so, the politics are none of my business or interest! For those that say this incident never happened, all I can say is do your research!

This case highlights how basic mistakes can lead to big problems. As you watch the below video you will see both sides ignored or were very lax with their counter surveillance. Even when the Palestinians spotted the Mossad Agents acting suspiciously just before the assassination attempt on Khaled Meshaal they took no preventive measures; bodyguards just follow people around and open doors right?

Counter surveillance is one of the basic factors for all operational security plans. Also, professionally trained close protection personnel / bodyguards should be pro-active, not solely reactionary.

The fact that after the assassination attempt the Mossad Agents did not realize they were being followed is crazy, this would be the time I would think they should have been on high alert for being tailed or intercepted by police etc.
Obviously the assassins had no plans for if the operation went bad, was this due to arrogance or just negligence? Who knows… Would it not have made sense to split up or have protective surveillance personnel shadowing them after they left the vehicle?

I understand why the Mossad Agents had no firearms but no improvised weapons? Why didn’t they use Krav Maga? I tell my students the first rule of unarmed combat is always pick up a weapon, not the last rule. On the streets in the real world, we are not interested in sports fighting and getting people to tap out or scoring points. We are interested in ending confrontations quickly, staying alive and not going to jail.

In this business it’s better to learn from others mistakes, I have learnt a hell of a lot from my own mistakes, and can tell you for a fact that learning from others mistakes is by far a better option… Enjoy the video!

Book on Amazon!
Intelligence Gathering: Front Line HUMINT Considerations
The things I talk about in this book are double-sided; can be used to target others or used against you.
Audio Book @ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJMW8SM5
Kindle @ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086WPL4XS
Paper Back @ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086PN2KLQ
Hard Cover @ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FK25TC7D