Israel spent years preparing for the operation against Iran’s nuclear and missile programs that was launched early Friday morning including building a drone base inside Iran and smuggling precision weapons systems and commandos into the country.
The operation — dubbed “Rising Lion” — saw more than 200 Israeli Air Force aircraft participate in the opening strikes, as fighter jets dropped over 330 munitions on some 100 targets, the IDF said, said a security official.
Israel billed the strike as “preemptive” and “precise,” and said it had no choice but to damage the nuclear program of the Islamic Republic, which vows to destroy the Jewish state, Times of Israel reported.
The effort hinged on tight joint planning between the Israel Defense Forces and the Mossad intelligence agency.
According to the official, Mossad agents set up a drone base on Iranian soil near Tehran. The drones were activated overnight, striking surface-to-surface missile launchers aimed at Israel.
In addition, vehicles carrying weapons systems were smuggled into Iran.
These systems took out Iran’s air defenses and gave Israeli planes air supremacy and freedom of action over Iran.
The third covert effort was Mossad commandos deploying precision missiles near anti-aircraft sites in central Iran.
The operations relied on “groundbreaking thinking, bold planning and surgical operation of advanced technologies, special forces and agents operating in the heart of Iran while evading the eyes of local intelligence,” the official said.
The Mossad later revealed rare footage showing its actions in Iran.
The United States knew about the planned operation for at least a week, according to a different Israeli official. Israel and the US are “continuously involved,” the official said.
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