Tributes have been paid to the former head of Mossad, Meir Dagan, who has died at the age of 71.

An official Mossad statement announced that Mr Dagan, who ran the agency from 2002 to 2011, had died on Thursday morning following a battle with cancer.

“Mossad director Yossi Cohen, department chiefs and Mossad staff express deep sorrow and send condolences to the Dagan family,” the statement said.

Mr Dagan served in the IDF for 32 years, before becoming Israel’s counter terror advisor under Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin and Benjamin Netanyahu.

While serving as chief of Mossad, he was alleged to have been responsible for the assassinations of several Hamas and Hizbollah leaders.

He later served as a director of the volunteer medical service United Hatzalah.

Following news of his death, Israeli president President Reuven said: "Meir was one of the greatest of the brave, creative and devout warriors that the Jewish people ever had. His devotion to the State of Israel was absolute.

"I knew Meir as a man of counsel, a wise man, loving and loved in his gruffness, a leader and one of the people. I bow my head with pain in his memory and send my condolences to his family.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added: "In his eight years as the head of the Mossad, he led the organization in daring, pioneering and groundbreaking operations. A great warrior has died.”

He is survived by his wife and three children.