Israel’s intelligence agency built a secret drone base near Tehran to launch its recent attacks against Iran.
The country spent years preparing for the operation, including smuggling weapons systems and commandos into Iran, security officials told The Times of Israel.
Israel activated the drones and destroyed surface-to-surface missile launchers in Iran, while the weapons systems destroyed the country’s air defenses. Mossad commandos deployed precision missiles near anti-aircraft sites, The Times reported.
The Israeli Defense Force released videos of the attacks.
The IDF releases footage of its strikes on Iranian defense systems, surface-to-surface missiles and other weapons. pic.twitter.com/FoWR6jK314
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) June 13, 2025
The secret operation enabled more than 200 Israeli Air Force jets to target more than 100 sites in Iran, including nuclear enrichment sites, weaponization sites, nuclear scientists, and sites related to Iran’s ballistic missile program, The Daily Wire previously reported.
The IDF reportedly struck the Natanz Nuclear facility, one of Iran’s key nuclear sites, damaging the underground infrastructure of the multi-story, underground enrichment hall.
Israel said the strikes were “the result of planning, drills, and thorough work that six months ago seemed like a fantasy.”
The IDF says the strikes on Iran is "is the result of planning, drills, and thorough work that six months ago seemed like a fantasy."
Full statement:
"Head of the Operations Directorate: This achievement is the result of planning, drills, and thorough work that six months ago…
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) June 13, 2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video statement that the operation, dubbed “Rising Lion,” would continue “for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu:
"Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival.This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat." pic.twitter.com/3c8oF1GCYa
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) June 13, 2025
In another video statement, IDF spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said the strikes targeted nuclear sites to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“We have no choice,” Defrin said. “We are operating against an imminent and existential threat.”
The attacks reportedly killed multiple top Iranian officials, including Commander of the IRGC’s Air Force Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Hossein Salami, and Commander of Khatam al-Anbiya (Emergency Command) Gholam Al-Rashid.
Most recently, Iranian media claimed the strikes also killed Gen. Ismail Ghaani, the Quds Forces commander.
Iranian media reports claim Gen. Ismail Ghaani, the Quds Forces commander, has been killed.
Ghaani was the replacement to Qassem Soleimani.
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) June 13, 2025
This isn’t Mossad’s first successful operation in recent years. In September 2024, Israel detonated booby-trapped pagers and walkie-talkies it had been selling secretly to Hezbollah, The Daily Wire previously reported.