Before Israel’s F-35 jets attacked Iranian nuclear and military targets, a secret Mossad operation had already laid the groundwork—by smuggling in drone components to strike from inside Iran.

For months, Mossad used suitcases, trucks, and cargo containers to move parts for explosive quadcopters and remote-fired munitions into Iran. Small covert teams assembled the drones near missile sites and air-defense positions. When the Israeli air assault began, these teams neutralized key systems and hit launchers as they emerged from shelters.

The operation helped blunt Iran’s retaliation and showcased how off-the-shelf tech can bypass even advanced defenses. Just weeks earlier, Ukraine had used a similar tactic to strike Russian airbases.

Mossad’s drone teams targeted missile convoys and storage bottlenecks, reportedly destroying dozens of launch trucks and delaying Iran’s counterattack.

The covert drone campaign—years in the making—involved training operatives abroad, infiltrating supply lines, and identifying top targets.