Planted leaks, digital DNA, drone strikes: How Mossad took down Iran’s top commanders

A motorist drives past billboards bearing the portraits of slain Iranian revolutionary guards generals Hossein Salami (L), Mohammad Bagheri (C) and Gholamreza Mehrabi, who were killed by recent Israeli strikes, in Tehran on July 9, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

More than a month after the war between Israel and Iran came to a halt, startling new details have emerged about the scope and precision of Israeli intelligence operations that decapitated key elements of Iran’s military leadership. According to Iran International -- a media outlet affiliated with the Iranian opposition -- the Islamic Republic may have suffered “one of the most unusual security and military defeats of the modern era.”

The revelations point to an extensive and deeply embedded Mossad operation, involving human assets, cyber-infiltration, and drone strikes that systematically targeted top commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Luring Hossein Salami to a trap

One of the most significant claims involves IRGC commander Hossein Salami, who was reportedly lured into a trap laid by Mossad. Iran International alleges that Israeli operatives intentionally leaked the date of a planned Israeli attack through an agent close to Salami. The bait worked: drawing the IRGC chief to a pre-designated location that Israeli intelligence had prepared as an assassination site.

While the outcome of that particular operation remains unconfirmed, the report underscores the level of access Mossad allegedly had within Iran’s senior command structure.

Missile strike kills Hajizadeh and his deputies

Even more dramatic was the fate of Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force. Iran International reports that Mossad deceived Hajizadeh and his top aides into attending a fake meeting. The source of the invitation? A highly convincing phone call believed to be from a trusted Iranian official. Once they arrived, a missile strike annihilated the group.

“The fake phone call inviting them was reportedly so convincing that they rushed to attend the ‘meeting’,” Iran International noted, suggesting the extent of psychological manipulation involved.

Targeting Ali Shadmani: A high-tech assassination

The operation to eliminate Ali Shadmani, who had just taken command of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters following the death of General Gholam Ali Rashid, also demonstrates the fusion of advanced technology with espionage.

According to the report, Mossad was able to obtain Shadmani’s DNA sample digitally and used artificial intelligence for facial recognition and genetic profiling. Malware allegedly inserted into Tehran’s citywide security camera system tracked his movements and pinpointed his location to the Zaferania district. He was killed by a drone strike on June 27 – just four days after his predecessor's death.

IRGC intelligence chief Kazemi killed in safe house strike

In another Mossad-led operation, IRGC intelligence chief Mohammad Kazemi and two of his deputies were lured to a safe house in Kurdbacheh alley. Israeli agents waited for the nearby kindergarten to empty before launching the missile strike that killed all three men.

“Iran International” highlights the fact that the targeted site was close to two kindergartens and a girls' school, raising serious questions about whether the IRGC had deliberately placed key assets near civilian infrastructure, potentially using them as human shields.

Iran’s cyber front under siege

As the war unfolded on the ground and in the skies, Tehran also found itself battling an invisible front. Iran’s communications minister disclosed this week that the country had been hit by more than 20,000 cyberattacks during the conflict. “In many cases, we managed to counter the attacks,” he said.

However, the scale of the disruption raises concerns over the resilience of Iran’s digital infrastructure.

Human toll: Over 1,000 dead

Iran’s official casualty count has also been released. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani reported 1,062 deaths in total during the war with Israel, including 102 women and 38 children. The figure provides the first detailed glimpse into the human cost of a conflict that featured high-tech assassinations, cyberwarfare, and targeted bombings deep inside Iran’s territory.

The extent of Mossad’s infiltration, if the report by Iran International holds true, marks a dramatic escalation in Israel’s covert capabilities. From deepfake calls to AI-powered tracking, Israel’s war strategy appears to have gone far beyond traditional battlefield tactics, aiming instead to surgically dismantle the IRGC’s leadership structure from within.