Israeli Officials Describe a Three-Year Effort by Mossad

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It took years of planning, mainly by the Mossad, for the IDF to pull off its remarkable attack on Iran, greatly damaging or destroying nuclear facilities at Isfahan and Natanz, destroying military bases at Tabriz and Hamadan, assassinating at least a dozen of the most senior generals in both the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and the Iranian army, blowing up on the ground Iran’s remaining fleet of F-4 “Tomcats,” killing the nine most important nuclear scientists at the very same moment in time, even though they were spread out across Tehran. More on this planning can be found here: “Israel’s spy agency used AI and smuggled-in drones to prepare attack on Iran,” by Julia Frankel and Sam Mednick, AP, June 17, 2025:

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel stunned and hobbled Iran last week when it pulled off an intelligence and military operation years in the making that struck high-level targets with precision.

Guided by spies and artificial intelligence, the Israeli military unleashed a nighttime fusillade of warplanes and armed drones smuggled into Iran to quickly incapacitate many of its air defenses and missile systems. With greater freedom to fly over Iran, Israel bombarded key nuclear sites and killed top generals and scientists. By the time Iran mustered a response hours later, its ability to retaliate — already weakened by past Israeli strikes — was greatly diminished.

This account is based on conversations with 10 current and former Israeli intelligence and military officials, some of whom spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss clandestine operations.

It was not possible to independently verify some of their claims. But the former head of research at Israel’s spy agency, the Mossad, confirmed the basic contours of the attack, saying she had inside knowledge of how it was planned and executed.

“This attack is the culmination of years of work by the Mossad to target Iran’s nuclear program,” said Sima Shine, the former Mossad research director who is now an analyst at the Institute for National Security Studies.

Israel’s element of surprise was enhanced by Iranian officials’ apparent assumption that Israel wouldn’t attack while talks over its rapidly advancing nuclear program were ongoing with the U.S….

In an interview with Iranian state-run television, the country’s police chief, Gen. Ahmadreza Radan, said “several vehicles carrying mini-drones and some tactical drones have been discovered.” He added: “a number of traitors are trying to engage the country’s air defense by flying some mini-drones.”…

Those whom General Alhamdreza Radan calls “traitors” for their collaboration with Israel will some day be honored for their contribution to the overthrow of this hideous regime.

Israel’s blistering attack last week on the heart of Iran’s nuclear and military structure didn’t come out of nowhere, said retired Israeli Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi, who heads the Israel Defense and Security Forum think tank.

It was the result of “Israeli intelligence working extensively for years in Iran and establishing a very strong robust presence,” he said.

This meticulous planning and “laying the table” over many years by some of the most intelligent people on the planet — Mossad agents — deserve our gratitude. They managed to infiltrate Iran. They identified locals whose hatred for the regime made them open to working with Mossad, in order to bring down the mullahs who have made life hell for so many people, both in and outside Iran. How many hundreds — thousands? — of Iranians are working hand-in-glove with Mossad agents to pull down the pillars of the regime, by helping the IDF, in myriad ways, to launch drones that were either smuggled into Iran, or manufactured in Iran, in order to hit various targets throughout the country? And along with the damage done by those hyperactive drones, Mossad agents and their Iranian collaborators had created a most complete target list of nuclear installations, military bases, ballistic missiles and ballistic missile plants, and the apartments and precise habits of senior generals and nuclear scientists. Let’s be glad they are on our side, the side of the advanced West, even more determinedly at times, than we ourselves.