Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, has reportedly launched one of its most extensive covert operations inside Iran, using locally recruited dissidents and operatives from neighboring countries to strike at the heart of Tehran’s military and nuclear infrastructure.

Axar.az reports according to an August 7 report by Yossi Melman and Dan Raviv for ProPublica, Operation Rising Lion unfolded in June 2025 as a combined air and ground campaign, targeting missile batteries, anti-aircraft systems, and key Iranian defense personnel.

The report states that Mossad shifted its long-standing strategy—traditionally reliant on Israeli operatives—towards training and deploying non-Israeli recruits, many from Iran’s ethnic minority communities. These individuals were allegedly motivated by a mix of political grievances, financial incentives, educational opportunities, or urgent medical assistance for family members. In total, about 70 trained agents are said to have participated in the operation, conducting raids on air defense systems and paving the way for Israeli airstrikes without any reported aircraft losses.

Among the most notable tactics detailed by ProPublica were precision strikes that killed eleven Iranian nuclear scientists and commanders, cyber-deception to lure senior military leaders into a bunker later destroyed by missile fire, and the smuggling of weapons into Iran through long-established regional networks. The operation reportedly inflicted significant damage on Iran’s missile capabilities and disrupted its nuclear program, though analysts cited in the article remain divided on whether the setback will be lasting.

The ProPublica investigation frames Operation Rising Lion as part of a decades-long Israeli campaign to undermine Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which has included assassinations, sabotage, and intelligence theft. While the operation may have slowed Tehran’s progress, the report warns it could also strengthen Iran’s resolve to pursue a nuclear deterrent.