InternationalCurrent AffairsRussia-Ukraine WarMiddle East WarIraq-Iran War
Israel also has"Operation Spider Web"! It is reported that before the Israeli F-35 fighter jets launched an airstrike on Iran, Mossad had already secretly smuggled hundreds of explosive drone parts into Iran through suitcases and container trucks, and deployed teams to lurk near Iran's air defense and missile bases. As soon as the war started, they simultaneously destroyed the missile and air defense systems to clear obstacles for the airstrike. The method was similar to the Spider Web operation that Ukraine recently carried out in Russia, which also allowed Israel to gain air superiority at the first time.
As Israel's advanced F-35 stealth fighters swooped down on Iranian nuclear facilities and high-ranking military quarters early on the morning of the 13th, a lower-tech but sophisticated threat had already infiltrated Iran and was ready to clear the way, the Wall Street Journal reported. People familiar with the matter said Israel had been secretly moving hundreds of parts for the explosive-laden quadcopter drones and ammunition that can be fired by the unmanned platforms into Iran in suitcases, trucks and containers for months.
These drone parts and ammunition were brought into Iran and assembled by small task forces, and were already deployed near Iran's air defense positions and missile launch sites. When Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, some drones destroyed air defense systems, while others hit anti-aircraft missiles as they moved out of shelter and prepared to launch.
The action helps explain Iran’s relatively restrained response to Israel’s attack and is yet another example of how commercial technology is changing the battlefield landscape, posing unprecedented security challenges to governments around the world.
Just weeks earlier, Ukraine had deployed similar tactics to destroy dozens of valuable Russian fighter jets using drones smuggled into Russia on top of container trucks, dubbed Operation Spider's Web. Both Ukrainian and Israeli intelligence operations have shown how low-cost drones can be used to circumvent sophisticated air defenses in creative ways and destroy high-value targets in ways that are virtually impossible to stop.
(Extended reading: 【With video】117 drones equipped with pilots, trucks self-destructed and destroyed. One article explains how the Ukrainian army launched a surprise attack on 8,000 kilometers of Russian territory )
Israel gained air superiority, Iranian facilities were destroyed and retaliation was limited
Sources revealed that the Israeli spy agency Mossad led the operation, with the goal of destroying air defense systems that could threaten Israeli fighter jets and preventing Iranian air defense missiles from being launched before Israeli air strikes. Within a few hours of the start of the attack, the ground task force destroyed dozens of Iranian missiles that had not yet been launched. The Israeli Air Force also launched large-scale air strikes against Iranian missiles and air defense systems at the beginning of the operation.
In the end, Iran only fired about 200 missiles at Israel in retaliation on the 13th and early morning of the 14th, killing four people and causing property damage around Tel Aviv. However, Israel had expected Iran's retaliation to be more serious. Sima Shine, director of the Iran project at the Israel National Security Institute (INSS) and a former senior Mossad intelligence officer, said:"We expected it to be much more serious, but it does not mean that it will not escalate today or tomorrow."
Shine pointed out that the Israeli attack on Iran's air defense facilities was critical, allowing Israel to quickly gain air superiority.
Israeli military spokesperson Effie Defrin said on the 14th that the Israeli Air Force dispatched 70 fighter jets to attack targets in Tehran on the evening of the 13th. These fighter jets circled in the airspace of the Iranian capital for more than 2 hours. He pointed out that this is Israel's most in-depth air operation in Iran so far.
🚨🇮🇱🇮🇷MOSSAD SMUGGLED DRONES INTO IRAN MONTHS AHEAD OF ATTACK
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 15, 2025
Before Israel’s F-35 jets struck Tehran, Mossad had already infiltrated Iran with explosive-laden quadcopters.
Hundreds of drones and munitions were smuggled in via suitcases, trucks, and shipping containers, then… https://t.co/94OogNOrzc pic.twitter.com/rSXUKXlqou
Integrated intelligence operations and military strikes have deeply penetrated Iran
Iran's intelligence services issued a statement on the 14th through several media outlets, including the Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), warning the public to be vigilant and pay attention to the possibility that Israel may use pickup trucks and container trucks to launch drone attacks.
Israel has deeply integrated large-scale intelligence operations into its military strike strategy. Last fall, the Israeli army opened its two-month offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon by exploding thousands of Hezbollah's walkie-talkies and pagers.
Moreover, Israel has clearly infiltrated Iran deeply. Last summer, Israel secretly sent a bomb into the Revolutionary Guard guesthouse where Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was staying, and then detonated the bomb when he was attending the inauguration ceremony of the new Iranian president, beheading Haniyeh with great precision.
(Extended reading: 【Video】BB Call explosions in Lebanon are"made in Taiwan" 9 dead, 2,800 injured )
(Extended reading: [Film] Like"The Truman Show", Israel deceives Taiwanese companies into cooperating with Mossad and tells them"Don't mess with us" )
No one can be sure that they are not being targeted by Israeli intelligence
The source pointed out that in the current operation, Mossad is also tracking high-level leadership targets in Tehran. He revealed that Mossad began planning this drone operation several years ago. They have long mastered the storage and deployment locations of Iranian missiles, but due to Iran's vast geography and long distance from Israel, they must be stationed in advance to accurately strike.
Mossad smuggled these drone parts through commercial channels, working with many unsuspecting companies. Israeli agents collected the ammunition locally and distributed it to ground task forces. These team leaders would first receive training in a third country and then return to train the rest of the team members.
Sources revealed that these drones and task forces closely followed Iran's actions when it launched missiles, and attacked them before they were erected and launched. According to Mossad intelligence, the missile vehicles Iran relied on to transport missiles from storage to launch sites were a fatal blow to its operations, because the number of missiles was four times that of missile vehicles, and the transport vehicles were far from enough. Therefore, the Israeli army locked on these missile vehicles and successfully destroyed dozens of them. Until late at night on the 13th, there were still task forces operating in Iran.
These actions and the process of their being exposed have produced important psychological warfare effects. Shirin, former head of the Mossad Iran Project, said:"No one in the Iranian top leadership can be sure that they are not being targeted by Israeli intelligence agencies and will not become an assassination target in the future. This is not just physical damage, but also a kind of psychological tension and fear."
A #Israeli F-35 III roaming freely in #Tehran Sky.
— HiMs910 (@HiM_77o) June 13, 2025
Reportedly Israeli Air force strike all around Iran with a package of 200 jet including drones.
These jet support supported with strong EW system for SEAD/DEAD Iranian air defense system. pic.twitter.com/2CEtV1Mm2I
ISRAEL'S MILITARY UNITS ALSO STRUCK BY IRAN⚡️
Iran launched about 200 ballistic missiles on Israel successfully hitting more than 150 targets including Israeli Air bases housing F-35 & F-16 fighter jets. #israil #Tehran #TelAviv — Barbarik (@Sunny_000S) June 14, 2025
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