Geopolitics

A new investigative piece in the usually pro-Netanyahu 𝑰𝒔𝒓𝒂𝒆𝒍 𝑯𝒂𝒚𝒐𝒎 — an Israeli daily newspaper owned by the family of late Trump mega-donor and casino mogul Sheldon Adelson — provides an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the Mossad’s role in Israel’s June 2025 attacks on Iran. 

The article presents Netanyahu as a weak, easily impressed leader who was more interested in flashy intelligence operations than serious military strategy. Rather than being the commanding figure making tough decisions, he’s portrayed as someone who had to be managed by his security chiefs and who often made the wrong initial choices before being steered toward better options.

The article reveals that multiple Mossad commando cells deployed sophisticated electronic systems inside Iran, including Gil missile launchers, thermal cameras, and communication devices that were operated remotely to strike air defense targets.

The operations were enabled by sweeping reforms implemented by Mossad chief Dadi Barnea starting in 2021, which fundamentally restructured the organization to rely more heavily on foreign agents rather than Israeli operatives, adapting to global biometric identification systems.

The article describes this as “a synchronized multi-participant production” involving hundreds of trained agents with tons of equipment smuggled into Iran months beforehand.

However, it also reveals significant tensions between Barnea and IDF leadership over operational timing, media coverage, and credit for successes.

The piece covers the Mossad’s role in hostage negotiations and the pager operation, while examining the organization’s intelligence failures regarding October 7. It portrays Barnea as a determined “Rottweiler” whose transformative but divisive changes proved effective in Iran but created friction within Israel’s security establishment.

https://www.israelhayom.co.il/magazine/hashavua/article/18289226

Iran’s foreign minister said that if US President Donald Trump wants a deal with Tehran, he should do away with his “unacceptable” tone toward Iran’s Supreme Leader.

“If President Trump is genuine about wanting a deal, he should put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone towards Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, and stop hurting his millions of heartfelt followers,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in a post on X Friday.

Earlier in the day, Trump encouraged Khamenei to “tell the truth” after the Iranian leader declared victory over Israel and the United States.

“You have to tell the truth. You got beat to hell, and Israel was beat up, too,” Trump said.