Camilla Jessen
A coordinated disinformation campaign appears to have helped Israel catch Iran off guard with its recent military strike.
In the days leading up to Israel’s preemptive strike on Iran, a series of carefully orchestrated signals from both Israeli and American officials convinced Tehran that no attack was imminent.
According to Digi24, the deception operation was reported by Israel’s Channel 12 news station, which described a deliberate effort to lull Iranian intelligence into a false sense of security.
On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly announced plans to go on vacation over the weekend — a message amplified by his office, which reassured journalists that the trip to northern Israel was still scheduled, despite rumors to the contrary.
“Contrary to information spread online, the Prime Minister has not canceled his trip to the north,” Netanyahu’s office stated.
This message was reportedly part of a wider campaign to mislead Iranian intelligence services.
Adding to the narrative, the wedding of Netanyahu’s son, Avner, was scheduled for Monday, an event that, according to reports, will almost certainly be postponed in the wake of the attack.
Mixed Messages from Washington
At the same time, US officials were also sending conflicting signals.
Speaking Thursday, US President Donald Trump acknowledged that an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities “could very well happen,” but emphasized that he would not welcome such a move and instead highlighted ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Trump suggested that a deal with Tehran could be “pretty close” if Iran was willing to make concessions on its nuclear program, The Times of Israel reported, as quoted by News.ro.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told reporters it was unlikely that Israel would launch an attack without American approval, adding further ambiguity to the situation.
Reports of Imminent Attack Surface
Despite the public statements downplaying the likelihood of immediate military action, reports surfaced indicating that Israel was in fact preparing for a possible strike.
On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel was ready to launch an attack within days if Iran rejected a US proposal aimed at limiting its nuclear activities.
The publication cited a senior Israeli official who suggested that a strike could occur as soon as Sunday if Tehran did not agree to halt its production of weapons-grade materials.
The WSJ also reported that Netanyahu discussed potential military action with President Trump during a phone call earlier in the week, citing two US officials.
Ultimately, Israel carried out a “preemptive strike” on Thursday night, according to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz. Explosions were reported northeast of Tehran and in Natanz — home to one of Iran’s key nuclear facilities.