TelAviv, Tehran and the Turmoil - Enemy within?

 

The Hidden Enemy: Lessons from Operation Rising Lion

The ancient Indian strategist Chanakya warned of four threats to a nation-state in his seminal treatise, the Arthashastra:

1. Threats supported from within
2. Threats supported from outside
3. Threats originating externally but enabled from within
4. And finally, threats that arise internally but are aided by external forces

Of these, he emphasized the last as the most dangerous—an internal enemy supported by outsiders, capable of undermining a nation from its core.

This timeless wisdom finds a modern reflection in the remarkable success of Operation Rising Lion, Israel's covert military offensive deep within Iran. While much credit is being given to technological superiority and tactical deception, the operation’s true edge came from what one might term the "Israel within Iran"—a network of internal collaborators disillusioned with the Iranian regime, working in tandem with Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency. This internal network enabled precise targeting of Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure. Senior military leaders—including the heads of the IRGC and Iranian Army—as well as key nuclear scientists, believed to be spearheading Iran’s nuclear weapons program, were neutralized with astonishing precision. The real significance lies not just in the strike itself, but in how it unfolded: FROM WITHIN…..

Operation Rising Lion would not have been conceived overnight. It appears to be the result of years of patient infiltration, cultivation of anti-regime elements, and quiet embedding of assets inside Iranian territory. These insiders facilitated Mossad’s operations—providing sanctuary, intelligence, and logistical support, all of which were activated in perfect synchronization with Israel’s military on June 13, 2025. The strike's timing was also strategic. Iran, it seems, expected an Israeli move—but miscalculated the date, anticipating any aggression would follow the U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiation scheduled for June 15. That meeting, as it turns out, may have been part of a larger deception plan.

There are indications that the United States was not only aware of this, but also tacitly involved. Israel launched the operation on the final day of a 60-day deadline set by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had warned Iran to accept the terms of a nuclear deal or face consequences. Despite official denials, U.S. support is evident: American forces reportedly cleared Iraqi airspace for Israeli aircraft and possibly coordinated overflights through Pakistani airspace. Another intriguing subplot involves Pakistan’s military leadership. Field Marshal Asim Munir Saeed, the Pakistani Army Chief, was in the United States for a ceremonial event on June 14, possibly as part of a distraction plan. 

Reports from within Iran suggest that Mossad operatives neutralized air defence systems and missile sites in the first wave, paving the way for an unchallenged Israeli aerial strike across over 37 key targets, including nuclear sites. The IAEA’s statement, just a day before the strike, that Iran was close to producing 8–9 nuclear weapons may have been the final trigger. Operation Rising Lion thus represents a multidimensional strike—sabotage from within, technological dominance, precise military execution, and a clear demonstration of how internal dissent, when weaponized, can dismantle a nation’s defensive core. The operation’s name itself appears to allude to this internal dimension—the “lion” rising not just from the sky, but from the soil of Iran itself. Beyond its military implications, the operation may signal a larger political shift. With the IRGC weakened and the Ayatollah’s grip shaken, speculation is rife about a possible resurgence of Iran’s pre-revolutionary monarchy, or at least the weakening of hardline control.

A Warning for India: For India, Operation Rising Lion holds an urgent and uncomfortable lesson: the most dangerous threats are often homegrown but externally nourished. There is a real and present danger of a “Pakistan within”—not necessarily religious in nature, but consisting of politically or ideologically alienated individuals who may act against national interests. Such elements could, intentionally or not, facilitate foreign intelligence operations, offering infiltration routes, sanctuary, or access to critical systems.

Illegal infiltration from Bangladesh and the Rohingya crisis have further complicated the internal security landscape. Many of these individuals have obtained official documents through corrupt means, making them easy targets for enemy recruitment. The risk of fifth-column activity—where insiders aid external enemies—is no longer theoretical.

India’s intelligence and security agencies must remain vigilant. Its time for them to pull up their socks. They have to learn a lot from Mossad. We went overboard on chest-thumping post Operation-Sindoor but in reality, we need more Operation-Lion if we have to conquer Pakistan. The lesson from Iran is stark: a nation that fails to detect and disarm the enemy within may find its sovereignty shattered—not by an army at the gates, but by betrayal from its own backyard. 

India's history repeatedly proved this. What we learn from History is, "We do not learn from History" and when we do not learn, "History repeats...."