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David Barnea reveals Mossad tactics used in Iran and Lebanon
Former Mossad chief David Barnea has disclosed strategic details regarding Israeli intelligence operations in Iran and the 2024 pager attacks targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon. Speaking at the Priority Summit, Barnea explained that during the June 2025 military campaign against Iranian nuclear and military targets, known as Operation Rising Lion, the Mossad deliberately released an official video featuring its insignia and operatives conducting missions inside Iran.
This tactic was intended to overwhelm Iranian security services by triggering mass arrests, making it difficult to distinguish actual agents from innocent citizens. Barnea claimed that Iranian authorities arrested approximately 21,000 people on the second day of fighting, a volume of detainees that eventually led to the release of many individuals, thereby protecting active Mossad assets. He asserted that 99.9% of Mossad agents have never had their identities compromised, noting that some operatives remain in Tehran.
Additionally, Barnea addressed the execution of individuals in Iran accused of spying for Israel, stating that some of those executed had no connection to the Mossad and were unknown to the agency.
Entities
David Barnea · Hezbollah · Iran · Israel Katz · Lebanon · Mossad
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] 99.9% of Mossad agents have not had their identities revealed. qudsnet.com · arabic.euronews.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Former Mossad chief David Barnea revealed details about operations in Iran and Lebanon. qudsnet.com · arabic.euronews.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Some individuals executed in Iran for spying were not actually Mossad agents. qudsnet.com · arabic.euronews.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Mossad released an official video during Operation Rising Lion in June 2025 to protect agents in Iran. qudsnet.com · arabic.euronews.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Mossad conducted an operation involving explosive pagers targeting Hezbollah in 2024. arabic.euronews.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Iranian authorities arrested 21,000 people on the second day of fighting during Operation Rising Lion. qudsnet.com · arabic.euronews.com