A leaked audio recording reveals that Israeli intelligence operatives warned over 20 high-ranking Iranian officials with a chilling ultimatum—“you have 12 hours to escape”—in a covert intimidation campaign following airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.
At a Glance
- Israel’s Operation Rising Lion began with airstrikes on June 13 targeting top Iranian military figures
- Mossad operatives reportedly phoned IRGC generals in Persian, warning them to flee within 12 hours or die
- Audio broadcast by The Washington Post includes threats to kill the general and his family if he didn’t comply
- The phone calls also urged officials to defect publicly by recording anti-regime videos via Telegram
- The goal: destabilize Iran by targeting second-tier leadership and complicating succession plans
What the Audio Revealed
In an audio clip obtained by The Washington Post, a Mossad agent, speaking fluent Persian, warns:
“I can advise you now, you have 12 hours to escape with your wife and child. Otherwise, you’re on our list right now.”
The message continues:
“We’re closer to you than your own neck vein. Put this in your head.”
These calls were part of a sophisticated psychological campaign directed at Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) figures, following targeted assassinations of senior commanders earlier this year. The effort seeks to erode Iran’s command structure and dissuade emerging leaders from assuming top roles.
Watch a report: Israel’s Covert ‘12-Hour’ Warning to Iranian Generals.
Broader Context and Implications
Operation Rising Lion represents an escalation in Israel’s shadow war against Iran, blending precision military strikes with high-stakes psychological warfare. The campaign began with a coordinated air assault on June 13, targeting Iranian nuclear infrastructure and air defenses, according to the Financial Times.
Israeli officials have not commented publicly, but the campaign’s strategy is clear: disrupt leadership continuity within Iran’s military elite, increase internal distrust, and complicate Tehran’s operational command, says The Washington Post.
To date, no confirmed defections or resignations have been reported, but experts note the campaign marks a new chapter in hybrid conflict—where digital threats, psychological tactics, and precision military actions are seamlessly combined.
Let me know if you’d like an analysis of Iran’s potential response, the legality of psychological warfare, or how Operation Rising Lion fits into Israel’s broader strategy.
