Journal on how Mossad used smuggled drones to weaken Iran’s defenses from within

As Israel and Iran teeter on the brink of open conflict, new details have emerged on how Israel’s Mossad conducted covert operation key to Israeli airstrikes deep inside Iran. The operation, reported by the Wall Street Journal, reveals a new era in drone warfare.

According to sources familiar with the mission, Israel spent months covertly moving hundreds of quadcopter drones and munitions into Iran. Using suitcases, trucks, and shipping containers, Mossad’s teams positioned these weapons near Iranian missile launch sites and air defense systems. When Israel began its air assault, these ground teams deployed the drones to destroy air defense emplacements and missile launchers as Iranian crews attempted to set up for retaliation.

This “inside job” approach blunted Iran’s ability to defend against the aerial attack, allowing Israeli F-35s to strike nuclear sites and leadership targets with minimal resistance. Israeli military spokesperson Effie Defrin described the raid as Israel’s deepest ever incursion into Iranian airspace, establishing several hours of “aerial freedom of action.”

Experts say the Mossad operation demonstrates how off-the-shelf drone technology is now altering the military balance—sophisticated air defenses are increasingly vulnerable to low-cost, easily dispersed threats. The attack echoes Ukraine’s recent use of smuggled drones to strike Russian airfields, signaling a dangerous new chapter in global security.

Despite Iran firing some 200 missiles in retaliation, analysts noted that Israel’s preemptive strikes prevented a far deadlier barrage. Sima Shine, former Mossad official, said the goal was not just physical damage but also to sow deep uncertainty among Iranian leaders over Mossad’s reach: “No one in Iran’s high echelons can be sure he isn’t known to Israeli intelligence.”