Last September, Israel launched a “caller” attack on the Hezbollah members in Lebanon, which caused a stir. Now, this tactic is being brought out again, this time targeting key figures in Iran’s military and nuclear programs.
According to a headline report in the Financial Times today, the attack is backed by a vast intelligence network that Israel has been building for years. Israeli forces are using various resources, including encrypted communication devices disguised as cheap Android phones, undercover agents, and even drone assembly bases disguised as fake warehouses, which have long been deeply embedded inside Iran.
The report also mentions that as early as last year, a senior executive of an Israeli telecom company in Europe received a call from Tel Aviv requesting assistance in designing a cheap-looking Android phone that could encrypt communications. At the same time, a reserve soldier working in a medical startup company was called back to the highly classified intelligence unit “9900 Unit” of the Israeli Defense Forces to redesign image algorithms to identify missile propellant transport vehicles.
These seemingly disparate moves actually connected the key segments of Israel’s large-scale attack on the 13th. In the initial strike, several senior Iranian military officials and nuclear project personnel were killed on the spot, and western air defense and missile sites were severely damaged.
It was disclosed that the Israeli intelligence department cross-referenced thousands of pieces of intelligence and drafted an attack list in March, luring the targets to concentrate and “take them all at once”. The entire operation is described as a new version of “shock and awe,” reminiscent of scenes from the Gulf War.
After the incident, Tehran urgently ordered officials to disable network devices and instructed the public to delete WhatsApp to prevent Israeli intelligence agencies from launching attacks through the internet. However, insiders pointed out that these measures had limited effectiveness.
Although senior officials in the Israeli telecommunications industry did not confirm whether these devices successfully infiltrated, it was revealed that hundreds of people worldwide are still using such special equipment.
Former Israeli intelligence officer Miri Eisin also stated that this operation demonstrated the strong combat capabilities of the Israeli intelligence system, but she also warned that after success, one must guard against arrogance and complacency.
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