“There are four kinds of dangers to a nation state. First, which is aided and abetted from inside; second, which is aided and abetted from outside; third, which emanates from outside but abetted from inside and lastly the fourth one, which emanates from inside but is aided and abetted from outside. It is the last one which is more dangerous for a state to exist”, so had advised the wise, old Indian philosopher Chanakya in his treatise Arthashastra.
An unprecedented success of “Operation Rising Lion” owes itself more to “Israel within Iran”, rather than superiority of weapons and the deception plan. Pinpointed targeting of military leadership and top nuclear scientists of Iran engaged in developing a nuclear weapon, speaks volumes about the role of the internal enemy, who cooperated with Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency. It is the “Israel within Iran” which facilitated neutralisation of Iran’s “effective response potential” to Israel’s rampaging fighter aircrafts.
Operation Rising Lion was not planned and conducted overnight. It had, probably, taken months, may be years, to plan and cultivate anti-Ayatollah elements who were tired of the repressive regime. These elements not only provided facilities and security to Mossad agents and equipment but also helped them to sneak in and establish base at a vantage point to be activated at desired moment.
And this moment came on the early morning of June 13, 2025, when Israel defence force (IDF) launched its Operation Rising Lion. Mossad elements within Iran, had already gathered information on the intended targets and carried out their pinpointed Drone attacks. Consequently, chief of the IRGC, chief of Iran Army, his deputy chief, along with many more senior military leaders were eliminated. Not only this, six well protected nuclear scientists were also neutralised by Mossad commandos within Iran, operating with the help of “enemy within”.
An unprecedented success of “Operation Rising Lion” owes itself more to “Israel within Iran”, rather than superiority of weapons and the deception plan. Pinpointed targeting of military leadership and top nuclear scientists of Iran engaged in developing a nuclear weapon, speaks volumes about the role of the internal enemy, who cooperated with Mossad
It is interesting to note that Israel launched the operation on the 61st day of 60 days’ notice given by President Donald Trump of the USA. He had warned Iran to sign the nuclear deal within the stipulated period, on terms and conditions dictated by the USA. He had also cautioned that failing which Iran would face dire consequences. Therefore, it is wrong to say that Israel did it on its own. There is a tacit understanding with USA to do so, notwithstanding what Secretary of State, Marc Rubio, has stated.
US involvement is more evident from the fact that the US army had invited Pakistan Army Chief, Field Marshal, Asim Munir Saeed to join the US Army Day celebrations on June 14, 2025. It was part of a deception plan to keep him amused. He must be in the air when a fleet of almost 200 Israeli fighter planes had struck on more than 37 targets within Iran. Role of “Failed Marshal” Asim Munir Saeed in this cannot be ruled out. A rumour is rife that he had gifted a wrist watch to the Iranian Army Chief Major General, Mohammed Bagheri, on May 27, 2025, which was actually a radio interceptor, to know of whereabouts of General Bagheri and this led to an accurate drone attack on him.
It would be wrong to say that Israel did it on its own. There was a tacit understanding with USA to do so, notwithstanding what Secretary of State, Marc Rubio, has stated. US involvement is more evident from the fact that the US army had invited Pakistan Army Chief, Field Marshal, Asim Munir Saeed to join the US Army Day celebrations on June 14, 2025
Details coming out of Iran suggest that Mossad commandos who had penetrated, inside Iran, earlier with drones, had carried out drone attacks on Iran’s Air defence system and missile launching pads and incapacitated them. This had provided the total freedom to Israel Air Force to carry out its strikes on Iranian nuclear sites with impunity. It is learnt that the US Air Force had provided a clear run to Israel fighters fleet over the Iraqi air space. Some claims suggest use of even Pakistan air space by US and British fighters to prevent any Pakistani intervention.
The Israeli attack came in the wake of an IAEA declaration a day earlier that Iran had almost reached a stage where it could assemble 8-9 nuclear devices. This was the spark provided to launch Operation Rising Lion, which had been planned and scripted months earlier. Operation Lion is a combination of ground penetration by Mossad commando forces, sabotage from within, incapacitating Iranian air defence and finally striking selected targets with Air power.
It is undoubtedly an operation which had signatures of help provided by the “fifth columnists”. This act of “enemy within” is also reflected within the name of the operation. Elimination of the top military leadership is an indication of softening-up of the repressive regime. IRGC is the repressive arm of Ayatollah Khamenei. Rumours are afloat that operation Rising Lion is a pre- cursor to return of the dynasty of erstwhile Shah of Iran.
Through this episode, there is a lesson for India too, to safeguard itself from the “enemy within”. There is undoubtedly a “Pakistan within”, who might not be entirely of one religious community. There are a large number of political opponents of the current central regime, who can do anything to undermine the government
Through this episode, there is a lesson for India too, to safeguard itself from the “enemy within”. There is undoubtedly a “Pakistan within”, who might not be entirely of one religious community. There are a large number of political opponents of the current central regime, who can do anything to undermine the government.
They might knowingly or unknowingly act against national interests. Foreign forces inimical to India were keen to cultivate such disgruntled elements. Such elements might facilitate enemy agents to not only infiltrate but also provide them shelter and other facilities. A large number of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas have infiltrated into India and they were able to get official documents with the help of corrupt officials and political masters. These people can be easy targets of the enemy’s agents. A deep watch is needed by the Indian security and intelligence agencies, to identify and curtail these elements.
-An ex-NDA and Wellington Staff College graduate, Col Rajinder Singh is a renowned author and security analyst. He has authored four books, two individually and two in collaboration. His best-selling books are Kashmir – A Different Perspective and The ULFA Insurgency. The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
