Israel’s Mossad spy agency released rare footage Friday that reportedly shows the country’s covert operations and targeted drone strikes inside Iran that badly damaged Tehran’s missile sites and nuclear facilities.
One clip shows at least two commandos reportedly launching missiles inside Iran, while other footage shows steady, homed-in hits to Iran’s defense systems.
Israel has defended the Thursday attacks as necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons that could be used against it.
“We had no other choice but to act,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) posted on social platform X.
According to the IDF, Israeli fighter jets destroyed dozens of missile launchers, storage facilities and a uranium enrichment site — a day after the Iranian government vowed to launch a new enrichment facility.
The Times of Israel, citing an anonymous official, reported that Mossad — Israel’s equivalent of the CIA — built a secret drone base in Iran to carry out the operation and smuggled vehicles carrying weapons systems into Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video statement Friday after the attack, pledging to continue to fight Iran and declaring the overnight strike “successful.”
“We are defending the free world from the terrorism and barbarism that Iran fosters and exports across the globe,” he said. “Many around the world — even if they won’t say so openly — know in their hearts: thanks to your determination and courage, citizens of Israel, and thanks to the bravery of Israel’s fighters, the world will be a safer place.”
“Hard days lie ahead — but also great days,” Netanyahu added.
President Trump, whose administration was scheduled to enter a sixth round of nuclear negotiations with Iran in Oman this weekend, is now expected to speak with Netanyahu later Friday.
Iran, which has said it will no longer participate in Sunday’s negotiations with the U.S., has already retaliated by launching drone strikes toward Israel.
