The operatives, often recruited from dissident groups, like Kurdish minorities, were trained abroad and reinserted into Iran with lethal gear disguised as everyday items.
By Hezy Laing
According to news reports Mossad sleeper cells in Iran played a decisive role in crippling Iranian defense systems, using advanced technology and covert networks to strike at the heart of Tehran’s military infrastructure.
Over the past three years, Israel’s intelligence service has shifted its strategy from external sabotage to embedding sleeper cells inside Iran.
These operatives, often recruited from dissident groups, Kurdish minorities, or disaffected insiders, were trained abroad and reinserted into Iran with lethal gear disguised as everyday items.
Reports indicate that dozens of cells were active across the country, positioned near missile launch facilities, radar stations, and cyber defense hubs.
One of the most striking aspects of the campaign was the technology provided to these agents.
Miniature drones, some no larger than a bird, were smuggled into Iran through commercial channels.
Equipped with explosives, they were used to disable radar arrays and disrupt the Bavar‑373 air defense system, Iran’s locally produced counterpart to Russia’s S‑300.
In 2024 alone, at least six Iranian military facilities suffered unexplained failures later attributed to sabotage by Mossad‑backed operatives.
The cells also received encrypted communications gear disguised as consumer electronics, allowing real‑time coordination without leaving digital traces.
Explosives known as “nano‑charges” were engineered to evade detection, small enough to be hidden inside household appliances yet powerful enough to destroy sensitive equipment.
Israeli officials estimated that hundreds of such devices were smuggled into Iran over several years, forming a hidden arsenal ready to be deployed.
The impact was dramatic.
Iranian officials admitted to “systemic failures” in their defense grid, though they blamed foreign cyberattacks rather than internal sabotage.
Western intelligence sources confirmed that Mossad’s sleeper cells were instrumental in degrading Iran’s ability to launch coordinated missile strikes during the escalating Israel–Iran conflict of 2025.
By neutralizing radar and command centers, Mossad ensured greater freedom of movement for Israeli aircraft and drones.
Beyond technology, the human dimension was critical.
Local agents were trained to blend seamlessly into Iranian society, living ordinary lives until activated.
Some carried disguised pistols with biometric locks, while others operated drones capable of delivering precision payloads against military targets.
Their success demonstrated how modern espionage now merges clandestine human networks with state‑of‑the‑art technology.
In effect, the Mossad reinvented covert action by combining sleeper cells with advanced gear, creating a model of modern intelligence that blurred the line between spycraft and battlefield operations.
The campaign not only weakened Iran’s defenses but also showcased Israel’s ability to innovate in the shadow war that defines the Middle East today.
