As Israel draws its long-running shadow war into open conflict with Iran, one of its security officials said that Jerusalem successfully tricked top commanders of Iran’s air force into gathering for a meeting. “We carried out specific activities to help us learn more about them, and then used that information to influence their behaviour,” the official told Fox News. “We knew this would lead them to meet — but more importantly, we knew how to keep them there,” the official added. As Israel unleashed one of its largest attacks in Iran, targeting nuclear and military facilities, the official said that the strikes were more successful than it had anticipated. Iran lost three of its top military leaders in Israel’s strike, one who handled the entire armed forces, General Mohammad Bagheri, another who led the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, General Hossein Salami and a third who ran the Guard’s ballistic missile program, General Amir Ali Hajizadeh. According to reports, two top nuclear scientists were also killed. Israel said that additional Revolutionary Guard members were also killed. Following Israel’s strike, Iran retaliated with 100 drones, most of which were intercepted. The deadly strike from Israel comes at a crucial time when Iran is engaged in advancing its nuclear program, which Jerusalem sees as a threat. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, in a sharp warning, asked Iran to reach a deal with US on its nuclear program, warning that Israel’s attacks “will only get worse.”
