The large-scale aerial assault on Iran was the culmination of years of meticulous covert operations, intelligence gathering, and infiltration by Israeli intelligence agencies.

While numerous fighter jets conducted strikes across Iran early Friday, the groundwork had been established over time by Mossad operatives closely collaborating with the Israeli military.

Dubbed “Am Kelavi” (Rising Lion), the proactive operation showcased unparalleled collaboration between the Israeli Air Force, the Directorate of Military Intelligence, Mossad, and Israel’s defense sector. They collaborated extensively to compile intelligence necessary for neutralizing Iran’s most critical military and nuclear assets.

A senior source informed Digital, stating, “The Mossad utilized a vast network of individuals—numerous agents deeply embedded within Iran, operating at the highest echelons. Some of these agents underwent retraining to become commando fighters, enabling them to execute vital operations.”

This effort culminated in what the official described as a three-pronged attack. “We decimated extensive areas of Iran’s surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missile infrastructure, a significant number of leading scientists, and substantial portions of their air defense systems.”

“We established a network of hidden weapons, and at the designated time, Mossad operatives retrieved them from concealed locations. Precision missiles were deployed on vehicles, and additional missiles were concealed throughout the country, hidden within rocks. This entire system was activated in precise coordination with the Israeli Air Force.”

Israeli jets executed simultaneous strikes on numerous locations, including Iran’s primary nuclear facility. Situated 1,500 kilometers from Israeli territory, Natanz had been a vital component of Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, the Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson, characterized it as an underground complex featuring multi-level centrifuge halls and electrical infrastructure.

“We inflicted substantial damage on this site,” Defrin stated. “This facility was utilized by the IRGC to further Iran’s objectives of acquiring nuclear weapons.”

Avner Golov, vice president of the Mind Israel think tank, told Digital, “The most significant achievement was striking the Natanz facility and neutralizing Iran’s initial response—the automatic retaliation.

“We eliminated their first move—the ballistic missiles intended for immediate launch and the drones already en route. The elimination of scientists represents the true accomplishment.”

Beyond the airstrikes, Israeli sources revealed a parallel, extensive intelligence and sabotage operation within Iran. A former senior Israeli official told Digital, “There was activity inside Iran—an extraordinary level of intelligence work.

“They pinpointed the Iranian Air Force’s entire command center. All the commanders were assembled, and they were neutralized in real time.”

According to the same official, Iran’s military had convened its top air force officials in one facility as part of a publicized exercise intended to project deterrence. Instead, it exposed them. “It was partially luck, but also planned—the ability to observe them in real time and strike with precision,” he stated. “It serves as a reminder of the events in Lebanon—eliminating compromised leadership with precise intelligence.”

The operation in Lebanon, often referred to as the “pagers” operation, involved Israel infiltrating and sabotaging Hezbollah’s command network using Chinese-made radios containing explosives. Experts say that the recent operation was more expansive, in-depth, and strategically impactful.

“I think this is significant,” said Nadav Eyal, an Israeli journalist and analyst for “Yediot Ahronot” newspaper. “What transpired here surpassed the James Bond-esque pagers operation. It’s more about the infrastructure, intelligence needed to read devastating strikes on military installations, and the ingenuity of its intelligence services—electronic surveillance, things that it’s been developing for many years now.”

The Mossad’s infiltration campaign included the covert smuggling of advanced weaponry into Iran, concealed inside vehicles and positioned near strategic targets. In central Iran, precision-guided weapons were planted near surface-to-air missile batteries and launched on command. Disguised vehicles were also employed to destroy Iran’s air defense systems at the time of the strike. Simultaneously, explosive drones positioned near Tehran were activated to destroy long-range missile launchers at the Esfajabad base.

All of this occurred under the watch of Iranian intelligence and went undetected.

Israeli defense officials now assert that the mission represents one of the most successful intelligence-military collaborations in the country’s history. If the Lebanon pagers operation shocked the world, the message conveyed by this strike is even more explicit: nowhere is beyond reach.