Operations in the decadeslong secret war between Iran and Israel have shifted fundamentally in recent years, moving from being the exclusive work of Mossad field agents to Iranian dissident insiders and others from neighboring countries.

Desktop Archive.

The Man Running Israel’s Intelligence Operation: David Barnea, the director of the Mossad, led Israel’s efforts to recruit Iranian dissidents to attack the country from within. Here’s what to know about him.

  • Covert Ops: Commandos that the Mossad, Israel’s intelligence service, recruited from Iran and neighboring nations destroyed Iranian air defenses in the first hours of a June attack.
  • Intelligence Gathering: Israeli operatives identified the bedrooms in which Iranian nuclear scientists were sleeping, enabling precise airstrikes.
  • Cyber Deception: Israel sent a fake message that summoned senior Iranian military leaders to a phantom meeting in a bunker that was then bombed by Israeli jets.