Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen stated that the security operation to infiltrate Iran began in the early 2000s and achieved astonishing successes. He described Israel’s information at the time as indicating that Pakistan and North Korea were providing nuclear expertise to Tehran. In response, Meir Dagan, then head of Mossad, authorized a new unit tasked with uncovering and undermining Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. This unit reportedly gathered details about Iran’s support for organizations and arms such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad, and began placing surveillance devices inside Hezbollah and Iran, along with employing cyber weapons against Iran and its allies. Cohen claimed the unit monitored multiple military leaders and atomic scientists, compiling files on each with precise information about habits, daily routines, and frequented locations.
“The security operation to infiltrate Iran began in the early 2000s, and astonishing successes were achieved.”
The text notes that the first tasks of the operation included inserting surveillance equipment into Hezbollah and into Iran, using cyber capabilities against Iranian targets, and compiling detailed profiles on key figures within these networks.
Author’s summary: A former Mossad chief recounts early-2000s covert efforts against Iran, detailing unit creation, targets like Hezbollah, and the collection of intimate intelligence on Iranian officials and scientists, framed as strategic precursors to broader operations.