AiBotTEL AVIV, ISRAEL – In a revelation that has implications for understanding intelligence operations in the Middle East, documents declassified by Israel’s Mossad on June 13, 2025, have cast fresh light on a previously unacknowledged dimension of Israel’s ‘Operation Rising Lion’. According to a report in Yedioth Ahronoth, a prominent Israeli news outlet, Mossad agents were trained in Israel rather than in their covert roles inside Iran. This information challenges previous assertions that Israeli intelligence operatives have been conducting clandestine operations on the ground within Iran.
The report states that Iranian nationals underwent specialized training in Israel on behalf of Mossad, after which they returned to their homes in Iran, awaiting further instructions. As spring 2025 approached, a joint team comprising Mossad operatives and Israeli Air Force officers identified a target, an Iranian air defense facility. This facility’s operational capability was deemed a significant risk to Israel’s air superiority over Tehran.
As part of ‘Operation Rising Lion’, Israeli intelligence officials assigned the trained operative cells missions to disrupt Iran’s military infrastructure. According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the Mossad-linked cells received equipment via clandestine supply channels and carried out strikes in the vicinity of Tehran and western Iran, targeting officials within the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Air and Space Force, as well as crucial military systems.
The Israeli agents received precise final instructions from their controllers just before the operation was carried out, in an effort to minimize potential security breaches. This tactical approach reflects Israel’s long-standing commitment to maintaining its intelligence edge in the complex strategic environment of the Middle East.
As regional rivalries between Israel and Iran continue to evolve, the latest disclosures underscore the sophisticated dimensions of Israel’s clandestine operations in Iran. While the operation’s success is yet to be thoroughly evaluated, this development adds depth to our understanding of the complex web of espionage and counter-espionage tactics being employed by the key adversaries in this conflict.
The Mossad’s reported decision to recruit agents within Iran itself highlights the need for Israel to stay flexible in its intelligence gathering operations. As these clandestine efforts will continue to play a crucial role in shaping the outcome of future operations, both nations will be carefully monitoring developments in this high-stakes intelligence arena.