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In an extraordinary public statement on Wednesday, Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency hailed a “historic” military operation against Iran, claiming the long-standing Iranian threat has been “significantly neutralized.”
The rare communication came just one day after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire brought an end to a 12-day aerial and covert campaign aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.
“These are historic days for the people of Israel,” said Mossad chief David Barnea in a video address released alongside the statement. “The Iranian threat, which has endangered our security for decades, has been significantly neutralized.”
Barnea praised the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the intelligence community, and U.S. support for the operation, which Israeli officials say has set back Tehran’s military ambitions by years.
“Objectives that once seemed imaginary have now been achieved,” he declared, speaking from a Mossad operational command center.
“We will continue to monitor all known Iranian projects — we are intimately familiar with them — and will be there, just as we have been until now.” The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) confirmed Israel’s claims in a concurrent statement from Director John Ratcliffe.
The CIA cited “a body of credible intelligence” indicating “several key Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed” and would require years to rebuild.
The statement also acknowledged the “pivotal role” played by U.S.-Israeli intelligence cooperation in the success of the strikes. Operation Rising Lion, as the offensive was dubbed, combined airstrikes, cyberattacks, and ground operations conducted by Israeli and Mossad commando units inside Iran.
According to reports, Mossad agents smuggled drones and weapons systems into Iran using trucks, containers, and even suitcases. These were later deployed to destroy Iranian air defenses and missile sites from within.
Footage released by Mossad on Wednesday showed explosive drone strikes on key Iranian military installations, including command and control centers and ballistic missile launchers. In tandem, Israeli fighter jets carried out long-range precision strikes across the country, enabled by the sabotage of Iranian radar systems.
In a separate video statement, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir described the operation as “a definitive success” and confirmed for the first time that Israeli special forces had operated inside Iranian territory during the campaign.
“After 12 days of unprecedented fighting, I can say the IDF operated at its best and fully achieved the objectives,” said Zamir. “According to the Intelligence Directorate, the damage to Iran’s nuclear program is not localized, but systemic.”
The offensive reportedly targeted top Iranian military figures, nuclear scientists, and enrichment facilities. Despite fierce retaliation from Tehran — which launched more than 550 ballistic missiles and around 1,000 drones at Israeli cities — Israeli officials maintain that their strategic goals were achieved.
Iran’s counterstrikes killed 28 Israelis and injured thousands, hitting hospitals, universities, and infrastructure. However, Israeli leaders say the operation has fundamentally altered the regional security landscape.
“We reached a level of operational freedom in the skies of Iran,” said Zamir. “We will not allow Iran to produce weapons of mass destruction.”