Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad recently launched a secret operation inside Iran, targeting key military and nuclear leaders. As Israeli fighter jets moved toward Iran’s nuclear and military sites, hidden Mossad teams activated explosive devices and armed drones already inside the country. These attacks were aimed at Iran’s top military commanders, nuclear scientists, and senior leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
According to an Israeli security official, many targets were still in bed at their homes when the strikes occurred. These officials revealed that the plan had been in place for months, involving secretly stored weapons and coordinated movements across Iran.
The strikes began early Friday, hitting key individuals close to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Officials confirmed that many were killed by drones carrying explosives or by other hidden weapons placed near residential buildings and military areas in central Tehran.
The Israeli government named the mission “Rising Lion.” It involved well-prepared Mossad teams and large-scale operations that had been quietly developed over time. The secret weapons were smuggled into Iran months earlier and kept hidden until the right moment.
The first phase of the mission focused on targeted killings. Victims included Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s military chief, Major General Hossein Salami of the Revolutionary Guard, and nuclear physicist Mohammad Mehdi Tehran from Islamic Azad University.
A senior Israeli official described this as just one part of a larger multi-phase campaign. Mossad led the mission with the support of Israeli military forces, combining bold moves and deceptive tactics. Planning had started long before the actual attacks, and U.S. talks with Iran about nuclear issues reportedly influenced the final steps of the operation.
Mossad teams were tasked with smuggling advanced weapons into Iran and placing them at key locations. These weapons were used to strike targets at the exact time planned. Officials did not reveal how the weapons entered Iran, but they confirmed Mossad had deep access.
The Friday attacks shifted from secret operations to open military assaults. Israeli missiles and jets later struck Iran’s nuclear and military sites, expanding the mission beyond initial assassinations.
Western analysts believe these attacks have severely disrupted Iran’s nuclear ambitions. However, they warn it is still unclear whether the damage will have lasting effects. Iran continues to claim its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
The attacks exposed major weaknesses in Iran’s internal security. Israeli forces were able to kill many top leaders in a single night, highlighting Iran’s failure to protect them from long-planned threats.
Mossad also sent personal threats to Iran’s second-tier commanders. Messages were delivered through phone calls, letters under doors, or threats to family members. These warnings made it clear that Mossad knows their locations and can reach them at any time.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump supported the operation. In a social media post, he praised the killing of Iran’s top leaders and warned of stronger attacks if Iran continues its nuclear program.
The secret operation is seen as the first phase of a longer campaign. Mossad and Israeli military forces had worked together for years to identify and locate Iranian leaders, collecting data on their homes, shelters, and movements.
A second Israeli official said Mossad had also prepared ground-based systems to shut down Iran’s air defense networks. These weapons were placed near Iran’s missile defense systems and activated hours before the attacks.
Mossad also built a drone base inside Iran months earlier. Before the main attack, these drones were launched toward a missile site near Tehran. The drones were designed to avoid air defenses and destroy missile launchers.
To disable other defense systems, Mossad used advanced devices hidden in normal vehicles. These included remote-controlled explosives that damaged or destroyed Iranian defenses without being detected.
The operation’s impact is still being assessed, but it has already delivered a powerful message. Israel’s Mossad has shown it can strike deep inside Iran, even at the highest levels of power.