Israeli sabotage from within: Covert operations on Iranian soil reveal deep Western infiltration
Department of Research, Studies and International News -29-06-2025
In the wake of a 12-day war triggered by Israel’s surprise assault on the Islamic Republic of Iran, details are emerging about a series of covert operations that the Israeli regime orchestrated not just from the skies, but from within Iranian borders. With active support from the United States, Israel executed a multifaceted campaign aimed at destabilizing Iran’s internal defenses, deploying drones, precision-guided munitions, cyberwarfare, and clandestine sabotage operations, an alarming demonstration of how deeply Western intelligence has attempted to entrench itself in the region.
The Israeli attack, launched on June 13, saw hundreds of fighter jets, drones, and refueling aircraft violating Iranian airspace. However, what was more unsettling was the scale of sabotage from inside Iran itself. Israeli operatives, presumably Mossad agents, launched attacks directly from within Iranian territory. Night-vision footage later broadcast by Israeli sources appeared to show commandos camouflaged in desert terrain, targeting key components of Iran’s air defense system to facilitate aerial bombardment.
One particularly concerning weapon used was the Spike missile, a small, precision-guided projectile designed to strike targets beyond visual range. Several Iranian air defense systems and ballistic missile platforms were hit in this manner. Iranian state media corroborated the use of these weapons, presenting remnants of missile launchers embedded with advanced remote-control systems and internet-based automation, believed to be operated by Israeli agents acting in terrorist capacity.
The strategy bore echoes of a previous operation in 2020, in which Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assassinated using a remotely operated weapon system allegedly smuggled into Iran piece by piece. In a continuation of this legacy of foreign-backed assassinations, Iranian authorities executed three individuals this week in connection with that operation, charging them with collaboration with foreign intelligence.
A significant portion of Israel’s infiltration strategy hinged on deploying small drones and quadcopters armed with explosives. These were reportedly launched from modified pickup trucks within Iranian cities. The Iranian military engaged in constant operations to neutralize these aerial threats, activating anti-air systems across the nation. Reports also emerged of Hermes 900 drones, large, military-grade UAVs, being downed by Iranian defenses.
In a bold escalation, Iran’s state media reported the discovery of clandestine drone production workshops within its territory. One such facility, located in Shahr-e Rey, south of Tehran, had been converted into a three-storey assembly line for manufacturing unmanned aerial vehicles, explosives, and improvised bombs. Another exposed operation showed six alleged Mossad agents caught in the act of assembling quadcopters and explosive devices.
Iranian security forces, in response, launched sweeping search operations throughout the country. Roadblocks, motorcycle patrols, and cargo inspections became widespread, especially in northern regions where residents fled cities due to the intensified bombing campaigns. Tehran’s prosecutor and judiciary chief appeared on national television interrogating one of the suspects, who confessed to filming Iran’s air defense systems for Mossad from rooftops, another indicator of the extent of foreign surveillance operations.
While Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir confirmed that elite units had “operated covertly deep in enemy territory,” Iran has not formally acknowledged these intrusions, likely in order to prevent further public panic and preserve national unity. Nonetheless, Iranian authorities have announced dozens of arrests tied to espionage and sabotage, with at least six collaborators executed since the war began.
Cyberwarfare also played a major role. Pro-Israeli hacking groups launched massive attacks that disabled two of Iran’s largest financial institutions and disrupted its biggest cryptocurrency exchange. These efforts were clearly coordinated with physical attacks to overwhelm the Iranian state from all sides.
One particularly haunting image shared by Iranian media showed the late Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) aerospace division, who was later assassinated, warning his fellow officers that “we are all under surveillance.” His comments highlighted the psychological warfare aspect of the Israeli campaign, which leveraged digital monitoring, spyware, and internal informants to gain a tactical edge.
Iran, in a defensive countermeasure, imposed a near-total internet blackout, cutting off approximately 97 percent of the country’s connectivity during peak fighting days, an unprecedented move that may have helped thwart additional drone strikes and intelligence leaks.
By Thursday, two days after a ceasefire was reportedly brokered by former U.S. President Donald Trump, most restrictions were lifted. However, the war left a bitter legacy. Israel’s direct actions from inside Iranian territory represent not only a military incursion but a serious violation of national sovereignty, executed with Western blessing. The involvement of U.S. intelligence and open support from the American administration have only deepened regional mistrust toward Washington and Tel Aviv.
