Latest news with #OperationNarnia
Hindustan Times
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Red Wedding: Israel's ‘Game of Thrones' style mission that wiped out Iran's security, nuclear top brass
The fantasy novel series 'The Chronicles of Narnia' and the iconic 'Red Wedding' from the Game of Thrones -- Israel's huge blow to Iran's nuclear and military establishment as well as top security officials in Iran was peppered with pop culture references. Inside 'Operation Narnia,' the Daring Attack Israel Feared It Couldn't Pull Off In a midnight operation by Israel on June 13, more than 30 senior Iranian security officials were killed. The mission, dubbed 'Red Wedding,' aimed to eliminate Iran's top military leadership in one devastating blow — a reference to the infamous massacre scene in popular series Game of Thrones. The elaborate plans that went behind this operation reportedly date back to decades, include a sabotage plan, a spy network in Iran and the setting up of drone bases that would cripple Iran's air defence systems in future. Another simultaneous strike, part of a second operation known as 'Operation Narnia', took out nine senior Iranian nuclear scientists at their homes in Tehran — a plan so audacious that its planners named it after the fictional CS Lewis series. A Wall Street Journal report details accounts of many former US and Israeli officials, shedding light on how Israel aimed at a double whammy for Iran. Decades of planning, one deadly night Israel identified Iran's nuclear weapons program in the mid-90s and had placed many agents in Iran as part of its ambitions to wipe out the nuclear establishments. Israel soon realised that it was important to hurt Iran through the air, but that was a slippery slope. The targets Israel planned to attack were over 1,000 miles away, which meant its pilots would require intense training on how to position multiple aircraft in the air so the missile struck within 20 seconds of each other for maximum impact, and also understand how would refueling take place in the air. The refusal of PM Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet ministers to the Iran attack plans given the US's more diplomatic approach back then, and the inaccessibility of the Syrian airspace due to a heavy Iranian influence back then, also posed problems for Israel. However, things changed in the two years following the October 7 Hamas attack. Israel dealt a huge blow Iran's proxies -- Hamas in Gaza, the Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. With Syria's Bashar Al-Assad regime toppled in December last year and an anti-Iranian regime replacing it, the Israeli planes' flying problem was also solved. A ruse, then attack An elaborate ruse played out by Israel, reminiscent of the 'Red Wedding' in Game of Thrones series, led to the killing of more than 30 senior Iran security officials on June 13, damaging the country's aerial defences and destabilising its ability to respond in the early hours of the conflict. However, the midnight attack plan was finalised four days ago on June 9, even as Israeli officials played out in the media that they were having differences with the US on the Iran attack plans, the WSJ report said. Even on the day of the attack, June 13, US President Donald Trump suggested that he didn't want the Israelis 'going in", and that an agreement between the US and Iran was almost done. All the while, Benjamin Netanyahu's office maintained that he would taking the weekend off for his eldest son's wedding on June 16. But, not even Netanyahu's family knew that he had planned to delay the ceremony. 'We remain committed to a Diplomatic Resolution to the Iran Nuclear Issue!" Trump had posted when Israel was getting its jets ready for the attack on Iran. Did the cover blow? Once Israel finalised the attack plans, Mossad agents covertly transported components for hundreds of explosive-laden quadcopter drones into Iran, using suitcases, trucks, and shipping containers to avoid detection. Small, covert teams equipped with the drones positioned themselves near key Iranian air-defense systems and missile launch sites, so they could neutralise the defence systems after Israel attacked. In the final moments before execution, Israel's plans, effectively planned over decades, almost failed, as it noticed Iran's air force scrambling. However, to Israel's surprise, Iranian officials gathered in one place, making it easier for Israel to take them out at once. Israel understood that crippling the nuclear establishments alone would not be sufficient, and that it was important to wipe the brains out behind them. Hence, an 'Operation Narnia', codenamed based on the CS Lewis-authored book series was in also place, bombing nuclear scientists' homes in Tehran. According to news agency Reuters, 11 senior nuclear scientists were killed. Israel carried out simultaneous attacks giving them no chance to go into hiding. Israel's 'kill list' was prepared in November 2024 with 120 intelligence and air force officials listing 250 targets, including nuclear scientists, Iranian missile launchers and military officials. Iran's nuclear establishments, including its Isfahan enrichment plant, were hit by Israeli strikes, and later two more of its sites - Fordow and Natanz, were bombed by the US. However, the total damage to these sites is yet to be ascertained.
NDTV
a day ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Operation Red Wedding: How Israel Executed A 'Game Of Thrones' Style Covert Massacre On Iran's Elite
In a covert strike reminiscent of the infamous "Red Wedding" from Game of Thrones, Israeli military generals executed a meticulously planned operation on June 13th to eliminate Iran's top military commanders. Running parallel was Operation Narnia, a deadly mission that successfully assassinated nine of Iran's most prominent nuclear scientists - right at their homes in Tehran. These twin operations have now cemented Israel's standing as the undisputed military powerhouse in the region. "When we started to plan this thing in detail, it was very difficult to know that this would work," said Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk, head of the Israeli military Operations Directorate and a key architect of the assault, according to The Wall Street Journal. The groundwork for this mission wasn't laid overnight. It dates back to the mid-1990s when Israeli intelligence first flagged Iran's clandestine efforts to develop nuclear weapons. What started with a vast web of spies evolved into a sabotage campaign - two bombings at enrichment facilities, and a string of targeted assassinations of Iranian scientists. But as Iran's nuclear ambitions persisted, Israel concluded that mere sabotage wasn't enough; the entire program had to be dismantled. Several times, Israel came close to launching a full-scale attack. Yet, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was repeatedly overruled by his own cabinet and security chiefs-fearing a direct war with Iran could rupture ties with the US, which then preferred diplomacy over military strikes. Everything changed after Hamas's October 7th, 2023 attack on Israel. In the two years that followed, Israel decimated Hamas and significantly weakened Hezbollah. Meanwhile, opposition forces toppled Syria's Iran-backed government, replacing it with an anti-Iran regime-opening up Syrian airspace for Israeli jets. By then, Israel's spy network inside Iran was formidable. Agents were tracking Iranian military leaders in real time. Drone bases set up inside the country stood ready to dismantle Iranian air defences. In fact, Israel had already crippled Tehran's most advanced air-defence systems in two strikes in April and October 2024. As 2024 drew to a close, intelligence revealed Iran had started enriching uranium to weapons-grade levels-putting them mere months away from building a nuclear bomb. Fearing time had run out, Israel activated Operation Narnia to decapitate Iran's nuclear brain trust. In November, 120 intelligence and air force officers gathered to compile a kill list. They identified 250 targets, including nuclear facilities, missile sites, senior military commanders, and key scientists. But for this to work, Israel needed not just precise strikes-but total air superiority. That's where Mossad came in. Agents smuggled hundreds of quadcopter drones, disguised in luggage, shipping containers, and trucks, all rigged with explosives. Remote-operated munitions were also positioned across Iran. Covert teams deployed near Iran's air-defence systems, poised to disable them the moment the operation began. The final green light came on June 9th. To ensure Iran's top brass didn't scatter, Netanyahu staged a public decoy-announcing he was taking personal leave for his eldest son's wedding. None of his family members, not his wife or his son, knew the wedding was being postponed, he later revealed. Simultaneously, Israeli officials leaked reports of a rift between Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, including details of a tense phone call where Trump urged diplomacy and warned against unilateral strikes. On the morning of the assault, Trump told reporters that the US and Iran were "fairly close to an agreement" and made it clear that Washington didn't want Israel "going in." But by then, Israeli generals were already finalising their attack plans. One Israeli security official said that it was important to implant the idea in the minds of Iranians that Israel would not strike without US authorisation and participation. As Israeli fighter jets climbed into the skies, Trump posted on Truth Social: "We remain committed to a Diplomatic Resolution to the Iran Nuclear Issue!" Operation Red Wedding was designed to crush Iran's military leadership in one fell swoop, denying them the ability to coordinate a retaliatory strike. Simultaneously, Israeli jets and drones were tasked with dismantling missile launchers and nuclear sites to cripple Iran's future capabilities. Then came an unexpected twist. Israeli surveillance noticed Iran's air force leadership suddenly mobilising. For a moment, Israeli commanders feared their cover was blown. But instead, Iran's military leaders unknowingly gathered in one location, making themselves an even easier target. Within minutes, Israeli missiles struck, wiping them out. Meanwhile, Operation Narnia hit its marks. Nine of Iran's top nuclear scientists were killed, their homes reduced to rubble. Israeli intelligence later confirmed that nearly every high-value human target on the list was eliminated. In the days that followed, Israeli warplanes relentlessly bombed Iran's nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, launch sites, and remaining leadership. By Tuesday, a ceasefire was declared between the two nations.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Deception and then a fatal blow': How Israel chose the ‘perfect' time to strike Iran; new details on Operation Rising Lion
Israel didn't just strike Iran - it lulled it into a false sense of security first. In one of the most precise military manoeuvres in its history, Israel launched a surprise assault on Iran's nuclear infrastructure after months of deception, misinformation, and meticulously coordinated planning. By the time the first Israeli jets were tearing through the skies over Tehran, Iran's leadership still believed negotiations were underway, and a wedding at the Prime Minister's residence was days away. 'The stars aligned,' one IDF general remarked. But what truly made the operation devastating wasn't just the firepower it was the timing. 'The IDF launched Operation Rising Lion to confront an existential threat to the state of Israel. In 12 days, we operated with accuracy and met our goals,' he said in a statement on X. 'The stars aligned' The timing, according to Israeli officials, was critical. Lt. Gen. Zamir had determined as early as April that June would provide the final 'window of opportunity' to launch a successful strike. Any further delay, the IDF warned, would mean Iran's nuclear and missile programmes might pass the 'point of no return'. Also read | 'Operation Narnia' and 'Red Wedding': How Israel pulled off 'Game of Thrones' on Iran By mid-year, a perfect storm had emerged: Israeli intelligence had fully mapped out Iran's air defences, the country's Axis of Resistance including Hezbollah, Hamas, and Syria's Assad regime had weakened significantly, and operational readiness within the IDF had peaked. 'The stars aligned,' one IDF general reportedly said during internal discussions, as reported by the Times of Israel. In October 2024, following Iran's second missile barrage on Israeli territory, the IDF accelerated plans for an assault. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Women over 35 are going crazy about this free slot machine game Lounge 777 Sign Up Undo The Intelligence Directorate and Israeli Air Force (IAF) began compiling a list of Iranian 'centres of gravity' from firepower and air superiority to economic infrastructure and military command hubs. By March, the IDF had decrypted Iran's air defence systems and finalised its target bank. To ensure operational secrecy, the plan was compartmentalised. Even senior regional commanders within the IDF were left in the dark until the final hours. 'Operation Rising Lion will be remembered in history as one of Israel's most daring and successful operations,' Zamir said. A web of misdirection In the days leading up to the strike, Israel and the United States launched a sophisticated misinformation campaign to mislead Tehran. According to The Times of Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump coordinated a 'multi-faceted ruse' to convince Iran that a military strike was not imminent. The two leaders spoke for 40 minutes on the Monday before the strike, during which Trump, according to official leaks, urged Netanyahu not to proceed. Israeli and US officials claimed the focus remained on hostage talks with Hamas. 'Trump played the game together with Israel,' an Israeli official told the Times. 'It was a whole coordination.' Cabinet meetings were staged around supposed progress in hostage negotiations. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar gave the impression that diplomacy was gaining ground, and Israeli media was briefed accordingly. Netanyahu even allowed reports to circulate that he would not cancel his weekend vacation and that his son's wedding was still scheduled further fuelling Iranian assumptions that a strike was off the table. Meanwhile, Israel announced that Mossad chief David Barnea and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer were travelling for talks with US envoys ahead of a new round of Iran-US nuclear negotiations. The meeting was never on the schedule. This smokescreen worked. Iranian leaders were convinced Israel remained hesitant and bound by diplomatic constraints. In truth, the IDF and its American allies were ready to act. A devastating blow, a disputed outcome As Operation Rising Lion was unleashed, the United States joined the conflict under its own codename Operation Midnight Hammer. American B-2 bombers dropped massive GBU-57 'bunker-buster' bombs on underground facilities such as Fordo, while Tomahawk missiles targeted secondary sites. 'Operation Midnight Hammer was accurate, powerful and had great achievements,' said Zamir. Trump later declared a ceasefire on Truth Social, announcing: 'It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE… THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World.' Iran, however, dismissed US claims of crippling damage. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that 'the Islamic republic won' and had delivered 'a severe slap to the face of America'. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi added, 'No agreement, arrangement or conversation has been made to start new negotiations.' Nonetheless, both sides have claimed victory. Netanyahu said Israel had 'thwarted Iran's nuclear project' and warned that any effort to rebuild it would 'be met with the same determination and intensity'. The war left at least 627 Iranian civilians dead, according to Tehran, and 28 Israeli fatalities. But Israel insists it has regained strategic balance. 'We struck deep into Iran, setting back its military nuclear program, its ballistic missile capabilities, and eliminating those who led the effort to destroy Israel,' said Lt. Gen. Zamir. 'This is a defining moment for Israel, the Jewish people and the world.'
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Iran's Supreme leader Khamenei was Israel's top target during recent conflict
Israel had plans to assassinate Iran's top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during the recent 12-day war, but the right moment never came, according to the country's defense minister. Defense Minister Israel Katz, who had openly threatened to kill Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he confirmed those efforts in a televised interview.(AP) The Israeli military had been actively searching for Khamenei during the conflict, which ended earlier this week after a cease-fire was brokered with help from US President Donald Trump. Defense Minister Israel Katz, who had openly threatened to kill Khamenei, confirmed those efforts in a televised interview. 'I estimate that if Khamenei had been in our sights, we would have taken him out,' he said. 'But Khamenei understood this, went underground to very great depths and broke off contacts with the commanders who replaced those commanders who were eliminated, so it wasn't realistic in the end,' he added. Donald Trump threatened Ayatollah Ali Khamenei President Donald Trump also threatened Khamenei's life during the war, he wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) on June 17: 'We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there — We are not going to take him out (Kill!), at least not for now.' Also Read: Inside 'Operation Narnia,' the Daring Attack Israel Feared It Couldn't Pull Off Khamenei became Israel's top target last week after an Iranian missile hit a hospital in Beersheba, injuring around 80 people and destroying several parts of the facility. After that strike, Katz warned that 'Khamenei will pay for his crimes,' and said future operations would 'shake' the foundations of Iran's regime, as cited by New York Post report. Ayatollah disappeared on June 13 The ayatollah disappeared from the public eye once Israeli airstrikes began on June 13. He remained out of sight for days, reappearing Thursday with bold claims that Iran had come out on top against both Israel and the United States. 'The Islamic Republic was victorious and, in retaliation, delivered a hand slap to America's face,' Khamenei said, despite the serious damage inflicted on Iran's military and infrastructure. He also dismissed reports from the US and UN about the effectiveness of American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Washington confirmed it had used deep-penetrating bombs to target nuclear sites, but Khamenei downplayed the outcome. 'US couldn't achieve much…': Khamenei 'US hit nuclear sites but couldn't achieve much,' Khamenei said during a televised speech. He also took aim at former President Trump, saying, 'US President Trump needed to do showmanship,' marking his first public comments since the cease-fire started on Tuesday, as cited by Daily Mail report. So far, the cease-fire has held. Meanwhile, American and Qatari officials are trying to pull Iran back into negotiations over its nuclear program.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Operation Narnia' and 'Red Wedding': How Israel pulled off 'Game of Thrones' on Iran
Operation Narnia. Red Wedding. A vanished Supreme Leader. Nine scientists dead before sunrise. What unfolded over Tehran this month wasn't just a military campaign. It was a high-wire act of deception, logistics, and old-fashioned assassination - carried out with such precision it felt pulled from fantasy. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But according to the Wall Street Journal, every bit of it was real. And if the consequences weren't already grave, they are only just beginning to unfold. Driving the news Israel's June 13 airstrike - 'Red Wedding' - marked the deadliest and most consequential single night in its long-simmering shadow war with Iran. The Wall Street Journal reveals how Israeli jets eliminated Iran's top air force leadership in one fell swoop, comparing the stunning outcome to the infamous massacre from Game of Thrones. This was no isolated blow. That night also marked the success of 'Operation Narnia', a parallel mission that simultaneously killed nine of Iran's leading nuclear scientists. Within hours, Iran's military and nuclear elite were shattered. Why it matters These twin operations signal a tectonic shift in the Middle East power balance. With its military elite decapitated, Iran faces an uncertain future. Israel, meanwhile, has solidified its regional military dominance and is now eyeing a historic realignment of alliances. US support - delivered through precision bunker-buster strikes on Iran's nuclear sites - amplified the effect. President Donald Trump declared Iran's nuclear program 'obliterated.' But analysts question whether Iran's capacity has truly been neutralized or merely delayed. The attacks also exposed how deeply Israeli intelligence has penetrated Iran, including the ability to stage drone strikes from within the country - a psychological as well as tactical coup. The big picture The Wall Street Journal's report, based on interviews with 18 Israeli and US officials, reads like a thriller - but the consequences are deadly real: 'Red Wedding' was designed to wipe out Iran's senior military planners in a single strike. Israeli intelligence tracked their movements and struck when they unknowingly clustered together. 'Rather than scattering, they gathered - sealing their fate,' WSJ wrote. 'Operation Narnia', dubbed so for its implausibility, eliminated key scientific minds behind Iran's nuclear program. The assassinations were nearly simultaneous, designed to prevent escape or dispersion. The plan had its roots in a two-decade-long intelligence and training effort. Starting in the 1990s, Israel identified the need not only to destroy Iranian nuclear infrastructure but also the human capital behind it. Israeli F-15s and F-16s trained for long-range missions in Greek airspace and later honed those capabilities during strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen - a proving ground for the logistics now deployed against Iran. Netanyahu's final go-ahead came on June 9. To preserve surprise, Israel deployed strategic deception - including faking a wedding for Netanyahu's son and leaking false tensions with Trump to lull Tehran into complacency. Zoom in: How they did it Spycraft and drones: Mossad smuggled in parts for explosive quadcopter drones hidden in shipping containers and trucks. Teams set them up near air-defense systems and missile sites, ready to strike at launch time. Airspace advantage: The fall of Syria's Iranian-aligned government in early 2025 cleared the path for Israeli jets to fly through without resistance - a key enabler of the operation's success. Information dominance: Israeli intelligence mapped Iran's air defense grid using thousands of data points. At the critical moment, Iranian defenses were neutralized - by both remote attacks and internal sabotage. US partnership: Trump's support came later - but crucially. US forces struck deep underground nuclear facilities, including Fordo, with B-2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles. Trump claimed, 'Nothing was taken out... too dangerous, and very heavy and hard to move!' in response to reports Iran may have evacuated uranium ahead of the strike. Between the lines Deception was critical. Netanyahu's team played a long game, misleading both Iran and global observers. Media leaks falsely implied Trump was holding Israel back from attacking. Netanyahu publicly planned a family wedding. Israeli military movements were framed as drills. The real victory? Intelligence. Israeli infiltration of Iran was so complete that it not only enabled high-precision targeting but allowed drone teams to operate inside Iran - and coordinate with airstrikes. Strategic misdirection worked. Iranian commanders, misreading Israeli and American intentions, assembled in a single location. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Israel's elite strike forces were waiting. The risk was massive. Had even one part failed - if scientists escaped or defenses held - retaliation could've been catastrophic. Israel bet big. It won. For now. A ceasefire, but not peace Twelve days of war between Iran and Israel have ended in uneasy silence. The bombs have stopped falling, but Iran's theocratic regime is in chaos. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86 and visibly weakened, finally emerged on state TV to insist that the US and Israeli strikes had 'achieved nothing significant.' Most observers - and satellite imagery - disagreed. Iran's nuclear infrastructure is badly damaged. Its Revolutionary Guard's leadership has been decimated. Its elite scientists are dead. And perhaps most damning: Israel operated with almost complete impunity, exposing Iran's hollow air defenses and compromised intelligence apparatus. The ceasefire, brokered with US pressure, gave Tehran a break - but not a win. 'There must be some sort of purge,' said Hamidreza Azizi of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. 'But who will implement it? That is the question.' What's next I ran may accelerate its nuclear weaponization - the very thing Israel sought to stop. US intelligence is divided over whether the program was set back by years or just months. Meanwhile, President Trump says backchannel talks with Iran are 'already happening.' His envoy Steve Witkoff hinted at a 'long-term peace agreement.' Meanwhile, Tehran is denying plans to resume nuclear talks. For now, Iran's regime seems far away from collapse - it's just wounded. And wounded regimes don't always back down. They often lash out. In 'Game of Thrones', the 'Red Wedding' wasn't just a massacre. It shattered the rules. It ended one war and started another. Israel's own 'Red Wedding' may have done the same. (With inputs from agencies)
