Israel executed a bold strike on Iran using well-crafted strategic misdirection to disguise its true intent. The security cabinet meeting, set up as a discussion on hostage negotiations, served to “lull Tehran,” a senior Israeli source told the Jerusalem Post. That ruse cleared the path for unity in a unanimous vote — each minister signed the “Shomer Sod” non-disclosure agreement before approving the pre-dawn strike.
Only Prime Minister Netanyahu, Strategic Affairs Minister Dermer, Mossad chief Barnea, and top military leaders saw the full plan. In the days leading up, the Prime Minister’s Office spread false signals: Netanyahu was expected to take a Galilee family trip, and Washington chatter hinted Dermer and Barnea would travel to the U.S. for nuclear talks that in reality never existed.
“The aim was to put Iran to sleep,” the source explained. This calculated ruse maximized surprise, leveraging an elaborate misinformation campaign to mask the operation’s true agenda.
Israeli defense strategists believe the element of surprise enhanced the operation’s effectiveness, potentially delaying Iran’s nuclear advancements. Channel 12 journalist Amit Segal noted that the timing aligned with Trump’s previous deadline, calling it “day 61” of Iran’s window to negotiate.
The coordinated deception and strike have rattled Tehran. Iran retaliated with drone swarms, but Israeli forces intercepted many. Meanwhile, international focus now turns to regional stability and possible U.S.-Israel coordination.
