Israel smuggled attack drones into Iran using a variety of means, including trucks, shipping containers, and even suitcases, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing sources familiar with the Mossad operation.
When Israel launched its shock campaign in Iran early Friday morning, it also used explosive-carrying quadcopter drones, rockets, and other sophisticated equipment located inside Iran for precision attacks on Iranian nuclear scientists, military leaders, anti-aircraft batteries, and surface-to-surface missiles.
It was previously reported that Israel spent years preparing for the operation against Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, including building a drone base inside Iran and smuggling precision weapons systems and commandos into the country.
Unnamed sources revealed more details in the Journal report, saying Israel spent months smuggling bomb-laden quadcopter drone parts into Iran via suitcases, trucks, and shipping containers. In some cases, business transactions were made with partners who were unaware of the cargo being shipped. Mossad agents inside Iran then gathered the equipment and handed it out to teams who prepared the drones for use. Team leaders were trained outside Iran and then returned to pass on the skills to the teams on the ground.
When the airstrikes began, the teams used the weapons to take out air defense systems while also hitting surface-to-surface missile launchers as they emerged from shelters and were being set up to fire in retaliation at Israel, the sources said.
Dozens of such launchers were destroyed, one of the sources said.
The Mossad later revealed rare footage showing its actions in Iran.
The operations relied on “groundbreaking thinking, bold planning and surgical operation of advanced technologies, special forces and agents operating in the heart of Iran while evading the eyes of local intelligence,” a security official told The Times of Israel.
Iran apparently still fears further attacks from within its borders. Its intelligence services put an advisory in newspapers Saturday, including the Tasnim outlet, which is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, telling people to be on the lookout for pickup trucks and other trucks that could be used to launch drones.
The Israeli operation — dubbed “Rising Lion” — has continued without pause, while Iran has responded with drones and deadly missile attacks. Israel has said it had no choice but to launch an attack on the nuclear program of the Islamic Republic, which vows to destroy the Jewish state.