Israel's Mossad Established Drone Base In Iran To Take Out Tehran's Missile Launchers

In a stunning display of covert planning and military precision, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion on June 13, 2025, targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. The operation, years in the making, involved a secret drone base built deep inside Iran, smuggled weapons, and elite commandos working undetected. Here’s how Israel’s intelligence and military forces pulled off one of the boldest missions in modern history.

A Years-Long Plan to Counter Iran’s Threat

For years, Israel has viewed Iran’s nuclear ambitions as a grave danger, with Iranian leaders openly calling for the destruction of the Jewish state. To counter this, Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) collaborated on a complex operation codenamed “Rising Lion.” 

The operation kicked off in the early hours of June 13, 2025, with over 200 Israeli Air Force jets striking more than 100 targets across Iran. These included nuclear facilities like Natanz, missile production sites, and military bases. The IDF described the strikes as “preemptive” and “precise,” aimed at halting Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons.

A Secret Drone Base Near Tehran

The mission’s centerpiece was a covert drone base established by Mossad agents near Iran’s capital, Tehran. The agency smuggled explosive-laden drones into Iran and set up the facility without detection. Overnight, these drones were activated, targeting surface-to-surface missile launchers at the Esfajabad base near Tehran, which posed a direct threat to Israel. The drones successfully destroyed these launchers, crippling Iran’s ability to retaliate immediately.

Mossad later released rare footage showing its operatives in action, including drones moving towards missile sites. The video, shared on Telegram, depicted commandos in black, equipped with night-vision goggles, operating in remote areas of Iran. 

Smuggled Weapons and Commandos Clear the Skies

Mossad’s efforts went beyond drones. The agency smuggled precision-guided weapons into Iran, hidden inside civilian vehicles. When the air campaign began, these weapons were activated, taking out Iran’s air defense systems with pinpoint accuracy. This allowed Israeli jets to operate freely over Iranian airspace, unchallenged by surface-to-air missiles.

Additionally, Mossad commandos infiltrated central Iran, deploying precision missiles near anti-aircraft sites. These ground operations neutralized key defenses, ensuring Israel’s air supremacy during the strikes. The seamless coordination between Mossad’s covert actions and the IDF’s airstrikes was a testament to years of meticulous planning.

Targeting Iran’s Nuclear and Military Leadership

Operation Rising Lion didn’t just hit infrastructure—it struck at Iran’s leadership. The strikes killed senior military figures, including General Hossein Salami, commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and possibly Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s military chief of staff. Nuclear scientists Fereydoon Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi were also reported dead, dealing a blow to Iran’s nuclear program.

The Natanz nuclear facility, Iran’s main uranium enrichment site, suffered significant damage, though other sites like Fordo and Bushehr were reportedly spared. Israeli officials reportedly claimed Iran had enough enriched uranium to produce up to 15 nuclear bombs, justifying the preemptive action.