Israel tricked Iranian air force commanders into having a meeting to distract them during strike

Israeli security official: “We knew this (our intelligence) would lead them to meet — but more importantly, we knew how to keep them there.”

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

An Israeli security official told Fox News that Israel tricked Iran’s leading air force commanders into gathering for a meeting to distract them during a strike on their nuclear facilities.

“We carried out specific activities to help us learn more about them, and then used that information to influence their behavior,” the official told Fox News. “We knew this would lead them to meet — but more importantly, we knew how to keep them there.”

On Thursday, Israel created several ruses to defuse Iran’s suspicions that a strike was imminent.

The security cabinet, aware of the plans to attack, leaked to the press that it was meeting to discuss the situation in Gaza and the stalled hostage negotiations.

One source said, “The aim was to put Iran to sleep.”

Every minister signed a strict non-disclosure document, known as a Shomer Sod (“guardian of the secret”).

Netanyahu also leaked his “vacation plans” in the Galilee, and there were reports that he was making preparations for his son Avner’s wedding, scheduled for next Tuesday.

The PMO also released a statement that Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Mossad Chief David Barnea were preparing to travel to Washington, D.C., on Friday to speak with special envoy Steve Witkoff before the sixth round of nuclear talks with Iran; however, Barnea and Dermer ultimately stayed in Israel.

In addition, Netanyahu gave the illusion of a rift with Trump by not denying fabricated quotes describing a growing disagreement between the two leaders regarding the attack.

Last week, Trump reportedly warned Netanyahu not to strike Iran while the nuclear negotiations were still ongoing.

However, on Friday, Trump revealed that he was aware that Netanyahu planned to strike Iran.

Although Trump admitted that the strike on Iran might have shelved his goal of a nuclear treaty, he told the Wall Street Journal that Netanyahu informed him before the strike.

“Heads-up? It wasn’t a heads-up. It was, we know what’s going on,” Trump said.