As Israeli jets struck military bases and nuclear sites in Iran during the opening of Operation Rising Lion, a parallel mission unfolded in the dead of night. According to Israel’s N12 news outlet, code‑named Operation Narnia, Mossad agents deployed an undisclosed weapon to assassinate nine of Iran’s leading nuclear scientists as they slept in their own homes.
Officials have not revealed the weapon’s design or delivery method, only noting that it remains “under censorship” and is not public knowledge. The War Zone, which first cited the N12 report, admits it cannot independently confirm these claims. Yet, earlier reports described the use of small, precision munitions against high‑value targets and guided missiles launched by Mossad operatives inside Iran, suggesting such systems may have played a role in the scientists’ deaths.
Israeli planners deliberately synchronized the strikes to occur all at once, preventing any warning or chance of escape. In past attacks, Iran’s nuclear figures were targeted by car bombs or shootings while traveling—events that alerted security services and prompted tighter protection. This time, the simultaneous home strikes provided no signal that an assault was imminent.
Remarkably, one-tenth scientist survived the first wave, only to be killed in a follow‑up operation days later. A senior Israeli official told N12, “These scientists believed their homes were safe. They never imagined a strike would find them in their bedrooms.”
Beyond immediate losses, Israeli leaders regard the campaign as a long‑term blow to Iran’s atomic ambitions. Air defenses and missile batteries can be rebuilt, but the specialized knowledge of these nine individuals—each with decades of experience—cannot be replaced quickly, if at all. As one intelligence officer put it, “It will take years to regroup these minds.”
The nine scientists identified by Israeli and Israeli‑aligned outlets include experts in nuclear, chemical, and reactor physics, such as Fereydoon Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi. Their removal, intelligence sources say, cuts to the heart of the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons plan—a program they view as existentially aimed at Israel.
Israel’s history of targeting Iranian scientists dates back years. In November 2020, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was slain by a remote‑operated machine gun mount, reportedly controlled from afar with no human shooter on site. Similarly, during the first hours of Rising Lion, Mossad reportedly used Rafael Spike precision missiles and suicide drones to neutralize air defenses and high‑value figures, sometimes assembling UAVs in safe houses near Isfahan.
Beyond Iran, Israel has employed covert tactics elsewhere. In September 2024, exploding pagers and radios killed dozens of Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon. And last summer, a bomb hidden in a guesthouse eliminated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh while he was in Tehran.
Given Israel’s secrecy, details of Operation Narnia may remain classified. Analysts warn that until more is disclosed, speculation will fill the gaps—but the impact on Iran’s program is clear. Removing top scientists undermines technical progress and serves as a stark warning of Israel’s reach.
Short Analysis
This operation underscores a shift from large‑scale strikes to targeted, surgical hits designed to erase key expertise, rather than simply destroy infrastructure. While tactical in nature, such assassinations carry strategic weight: delaying Iran’s program for years and signaling that no sanctuary is guaranteed. However, this approach also risks hardening Iranian resolve and could spark retaliatory measures against Israeli assets worldwide.
Sources: The War Zone
