The Lead
On February 28, Israeli forces reportedly conducted an airstrike against a compound housing former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, followed by a high-speed extraction of the leader by Mossad agents. According to reports by N12 and other sources, the operation targeted Ahmadinejad's security infrastructure before he was moved to a secret safe house within Iran.
New details are surfacing regarding a complex operation involving both kinetic action and intelligence extraction inside Iran. On February 28—identified as the opening day of Operation Roaring Lion—an Israeli airstrike targeted the compound where Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was staying. The strike specifically hit a building used by his bodyguards and destroyed his armored vehicle.
Immediately following the strike, a black Peugeot arrived at the scene. According to American and Iranian sources cited in reports, the vehicle was operated by Mossad agents who extracted Ahmadinejad from the chaotic site at high speed. He was reportedly taken to a secret safe house located within Iranian territory.
Analysis of the event suggests a deeper intelligence play. Reports indicate that the extraction was part of a long-running effort to cultivate Ahmadinejad as a potential leader in a post-regime scenario. However, the former president was reportedly agitated by the nature of the rescue and appeared disillusioned with the plan. He eventually left the safe house under circumstances that remain unclear.
Ahmadinejad remained out of the public eye for several months following the February incident. He only recently re-emerged on Monday, appearing briefly at the funeral procession for the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. While some reports suggest he may now be under house arrest by the IRGC's intelligence wing, his exact status and the full extent of his cooperation with Israeli intelligence remain unconfirmed.
2 developments
- The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
- Trump threatens to 'eliminate' Iranian leadership, says US plans significant attacks today
- UKMTO reports cargo vessel attacked southwest of Yemen's Al Hudaydah port
- UAE plans new port bypassing Strait of Hormuz, Financial Times reports
- Liberman accuses Netanyahu of betraying state security by prioritizing coalition partners over IDF
