In a recently uploaded video by Mossad, the director of the intelligence agency David Barnea has assured that Israel will continue its clandestine operations within Iran. The statement was made just after a ceasefire between the two countries became operational on Tuesday.
Addressing agents at Mossad’s operational headquarters, Barnea said, “We will continue to keep a close eye on all of Iran's projects that we already know in the most in-depth way. We will be there as we have been there until now,” reaffirming the agency’s longstanding surveillance and operational presence in Iran.
Barnea underscored Mossad's contribution to Israel's military operations, citing the convergence of intelligence and technology. "With precise intelligence, cutting-edge technologies, and unimaginable operational capacity, we assisted the Air Force in disrupting the Iranian nuclear project, gaining air dominance over Iran, and mitigating the missile threat, thus providing the Israeli citizens with the assurance of safety.
He also offered thanks to the US Central Intelligence Agency for "the joint activity" that brought about recent events.
Earlier in the day, the Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC), through a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, affirmed that US attacks on Iran's Fordow nuclear site had severely damaged it. The bombing raids, undertaken on Sunday, destroyed critical infrastructure and made the uranium enrichment plant inoperable, the IAEC reported.
In the statement, joint US and Israeli military actions have inflicted a long-term blow to Iran's nuclear program. "The success can be sustained indefinitely if Iran does not gain access to nuclear material," it stated.
Addressing a cabinet session, Netanyahu said Israel had neutralized an urgent threat. He declared victory by stating Israel had "eliminated an immediate existential threat," as quoted by Xinhua news agency.
Israel has insisted that its actions were intended to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons—claims Tehran has repeatedly denied.
In any case, Iran confirmed the damage. Esmail Baghaei, a Foreign Ministry spokesman for Iran, said to Al Jazeera, "Our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that's for sure."
But varying opinions have surfaced in the US. Media sources, quoting classified intelligence reports, indicated that the true extent of the damage might only set Iran's nuclear plans back by a few months—questioning former President Donald Trump's claim that the facilities were "completely and fully obliterated."
The fight escalated on June 13, when Israel initiated extensive air attacks against major Iranian military and nuclear sites. The assault killed several top-ranking commanders, nuclear engineers, and civilians.
Iran retaliated by launching a series of missile and drone attacks against Israel, with heavy causalities and destruction of structures.
The fight has since been interrupted with a ceasefire announced on Tuesday.
Read also| Rajnath Singh at SCO Summit: 'Terrorism and Peace Are Incompatible'
