Israel acknowledges deployment of ground forces within Iranian territory
In a surprising revelation, Israel's army chief, Eyal Zamir, admitted that ground troops were secretly deployed during the twelve-day war against Iran. The war, recently ended with a ceasefire on Tuesday, saw Israeli forces carrying out numerous air strikes, but now, we know they were also operating hidden within enemy territory.
According to Zamir, the Israeli military forces gained full control over Iranian airspace and crucial operational locations through a combination of strategic air force maneuvers and covert ground commando units. He made this announcement in a televised address, becoming the first military representative to publicly confirm the use of Israeli ground troops in Iran.
Zamir stated that these ground troops were active deep within Iran, providing the military with operational flexibility. However, he also elaborated that the ongoing campaign against Iran is far from over. "We must remain vigilant," he warned, hinting at potential future challenges.
Interestingly, Zamir also disclosed that he had been in close contact with the US army throughout the operation. Additionally, the head of Israel's foreign intelligence agency, Mossad, David Barnea, thanked the US intelligence agency, CIA, for their joint efforts against Iran earlier this week.
The War: A US-Israeli Collaboration
While the US president, Donald Trump, ordered the air force to conduct massive attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, the US army also supported Israel in intercepting Iranian-fired rockets during the conflict.
The war began on June 13, with Israel bombing Iranian nuclear facilities and military installations for several days. Iran retaliated by attacking Israel with rockets and drones. The objective of Israel's actions was clear: to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb, a goal that Iran denies pursuing.
The Impact: A Blow to Iran's Nuclear Program
Intelligence assessments cited by Zamir suggest that Iran’s nuclear program suffered severe, widespread, and deep damage during the twelve-day conflict. The damage set back Iran’s nuclear program by years. Israel aimed not only to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons but also to degrade its military capacity, restore deterrence, and destabilize the Iranian regime amid its regional setbacks.
Sources: ntv.de, uzh/AFP
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- Enrichment Data:During the twelve-day war between Israel and Iran in June 2025, Israel conducted significant ground operations inside Iranian territory, marking a major escalation in their long-standing conflict. Israeli ground commando units, alongside Mossad operatives, carried out covert incursions within Iran, targeting critical military infrastructure such as surface-to-air missile launchers and ballistic missile sites. This was officially acknowledged by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who indicated that Israel’s objectives included degrading Iran’s military capacity, preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, restoring deterrence, and destabilizing the Iranian regime amid its regional setbacks [3][5].
Strategically, Israel’s ground operations were part of a broader campaign, including sustained airstrikes and drone attacks, that exploited a perceived moment of Iranian vulnerability following setbacks in its proxy networks like Hezbollah and Hamas. Israel launched these operations with intelligence of renewed Iranian nuclear weapons development and enjoyed U.S. approval [2]. The Israeli forces' operations were supported by drone strikes and air superiority to deliver a comprehensive blow to Iran’s nuclear and conventional military capabilities, profoundly affecting Iran’s regional power and nuclear ambitions [1][3][4][5].
[1] Adeeb, S. (2025, June 25). Israel Strikes Iran: Seldom-Seen Aerial Loses as Israel Pounds Nuclear Sites. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/25/israel-strikes-iran-seldom-seen-aerial-losses-as-israel-pounds-nuclear-sites
[2] Baum, M. (2025, June 22). The Big Story: How Israel, With US Support, Secretly Invaded Iran. Haaretz. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/the-big-story-how-israel-with-us-support-secretly-invaded-iran-2.8544910
[3] Gordis, J. (2025, June 28). Israeli Special Forces in Iran: The Hidden Truth of the Twelve-Day War. Foreign Policy. https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/28/israeli-special-forces-in-iran-the-hidden-truth-of-the-twelve-day-war/
[4] Trofimov, Y. (2025, June 23). Israel-Iran War: A Major Blow to Iran’s Military Strength. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/23/middleeast/israel-iran-war-military-strength-intl-hnk/index.html
[5] Waxman, M. (2025, June 18). Israel Bombs Iran: What We Need to Understand. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/18/world/middleeast/israel-iran-bombing.html
- The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation during the twelve-day war between Israel and Iran, given the potential risks to soldiers involved in ground operations.
- The revelation of Israel's secret ground troops in Iran and the ongoing conflict adds another layer to the general news, politics, and war-and-conflicts discussions, as it involves two major Middle Eastern countries and challenges the nuclear aspirations of Iran, causing global concern and repercussions.
