The Diplomacy Ruse and Strikes from Within

From blowing political smokescreens, giving the illusion of a major rift with the U.S. that President Trump took part in, to Mossad operations well inside Iran months before the attack, Operation Rising Lion stands as a defining example of strategic deception.

By Anash.org reporter

The Diplomacy Ruse

In the weeks leading up to Israel’s surprise airstrike deep within Iranian territory, a meticulously orchestrated deception campaign unfolded across multiple spheres. Central to this effort was a calculated diplomatic misdirection, crafted to lull Tehran into a false sense of security.

At the heart of the deception was a fabricated diplomatic front. The Prime Minister’s Office released statements announcing that Mossad Chief David Barnea and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer would depart for nuclear negotiations with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in Washington and Oman on June 13. In reality, both men remained in Israel to coordinate final preparations. Top Israeli officials later confirmed that this announcement was a deliberate ploy. According to a senior adviser in the National Security Council, the aim was to convince Tehran that the diplomatic track was still open, ensuring they lowered their military alertness. Iranian analysts, convinced that negotiations were underway, dismissed the possibility of an imminent Israeli strike.

Reinforcing this false narrative, President Donald Trump posted on social media shortly before the strike: “We remain committed to a diplomatic resolution of the Iran nuclear issue… They could be a great country, but must give up nuclear weapons ambitions.” The timing—just minutes before Israeli jets entered Iranian airspace—deepened Iran’s misreading of American support and intent.

Israeli and American officials also maintained silence around rumors of a rift between the two countries, deliberately allowing them to spread. Combined with political infighting in the Knesset over the draft law, it gave the impression that Israel was too distracted to launch a major operation. Channel 12 journalist Amit Segal later noted that Trump had said on April 12 that Iran had “60 days to reach a deal”—”Today is day 61,” he pointed out.

Warfare of Illusion

In parallel with the diplomatic ruse, several domestic and international events were used to reinforce the illusion of calm. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s son, Avner Netanyahu, was set to be married on June 17. The Prime Minister’s Office announced plans for a family vacation in the Galilee, and heavy security and no-fly zones were explained as related to the wedding. Cabinet ministers, including Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, later acknowledged that these measures had the secondary benefit of concealing force deployments. According to sources in the Prime Minister’s Office, the wedding date helped build a credible timeline for Netanyahu’s public disengagement from military matters, reinforcing the impression of political calm. This allowed armored units and aircraft to be repositioned under the guise of ceremonial protection.

Even Thursday night’s security cabinet meeting, where the final go-ahead was given, was deliberately mislabeled as a discussion on a hostage deal. Every minister present signed a strict Shomer Sod (“guardian of the secret”) non-disclosure agreement. Not a word of the real agenda leaked.

Media attention was further scattered by a variety of developments. Argentine President Javier Milei paid a second visit to the Kosel, together with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Senior officials in the Foreign Ministry later confirmed that the timing of the visit had been welcomed as a helpful distraction, providing diplomatic cover during critical days of final military preparation. At the same time, Israeli and U.S. naval forces were conducting exercises in the Red Sea—publicly framed as routine anti-piracy operations, but tactically aligned with the broader military buildup.

Strikes from Within

Long before the jets took off, Mossad teams were already active inside Iran. According to Israeli reports, they quietly moved across the country and placed small, guided explosives near radar stations and surface-to-air missile sites. These charges remained hidden and inactive until the night of the attack.

When the Israeli Air Force began its strike, the explosives were remotely triggered, disabling key air-defense systems and clearing the way for the incoming jets.

Other Mossad teams placed advanced explosives inside vehicles disguised as civilian transport. These vehicles were parked near missile launchers and radar facilities and detonated just as the first wave of jets entered Iranian airspace.

One of the boldest elements of the operation was the establishment of a covert drone base near the Asfaqabad missile complex outside Tehran. Mossad agents smuggled in parts over several weeks and assembled loitering explosive drones inside a repurposed agricultural warehouse. These drones were launched in the opening minutes of the Israeli strike and struck missile batteries guarding critical infrastructure, neutralizing them before they could respond.

Mossad’s cyber units also disrupted Iranian military communications. They inserted false orders and jammed signals, creating confusion among commanders. Infiltrated malware scrambled command systems, injected fake directives, and spoofed radar readings. Just hours before the strike, encrypted military communications in Iran dropped sharply—by over 60% in central Iran—suggesting that electronic interference had taken hold.

Back in Israel, the IDF carried out a calculated repositioning of air defense systems. Iron Dome and David’s Sling batteries typically stationed around Jerusalem and Tel Aviv were quietly moved northward, explained publicly as tied to national events and Netanyahu’s travel. In their place, radar-reflective decoys were set up to fool enemy surveillance. Airbases went into blackout mode: aircraft were prepped under camouflage, maintenance crews worked overnight, and takeoffs were restricted to avoid attention.

These internal operations by Mossad, paired with strategic misdirection and air superiority, played a key role in weakening Iranian air defenses and delaying any immediate retaliation. In the end, Iran was not only unprepared for the attack—it was looking in the wrong direction entirely. Rising Lion delivered its opening blow with surprise intact, and the full weight of Israeli airpower encountered minimal resistance.

VIDEO: Mossad personnel on Iranian soil.

Footage of targeted strikes from within Iran: