‘Israel’ may carry out pager-style attack on Iranian leaders: former Mossad official

‘Israel’ may consider a pager-style operation against Iranian military leaders if war resumes, a former Mossad official said.

Amid rising tensions and the deployment of a third US aircraft carrier to the Middle East, a report suggests ‘Israel’ could pursue a surprise attack similar to its 2024 “Operation Grim Beeper” against Hezbollah if hostilities with Iran restart after the US midterm elections.

The New York Post cited former Mossad Deputy Head of Global Operations Oded Ailam, who said such an operation targeting Iran’s military leadership remains possible.

In September 2024, ‘Israel’ detonated thousands of explosive-rigged pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah operatives across Lebanon and Syria.

The operation killed dozens and injured thousands, significantly weakening the Iran-backed group.

Ailam described surprise tactics as core to the ‘Israeli’ strategy.

“This is the bread and butter of Israeli strategy, is surprise twists and turns, unexpected moves and I’m absolutely certain that Israel has cards in the sleeve that will be used,” he told the Post.

According to Ailam, Iran’s formal political leadership—including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf, and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei—functions largely as figureheads.

Real power, he said, rests with a military quadrumvirate: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Ahmad Vahidi, Basij forces commander Hossein Taeb, Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Ali Abdollahi, and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei.

“The president and foreign minister can’t make decisions. [The military junta] hides behind Mojtaba, but he’s not in charge; he’s a complete puppet,” Ailam stated.

These four officials have been linked to the suppression of anti-regime protests earlier in 2026, with reports of tens of thousands killed, and hold longstanding sanctions designations related to terrorism and other activities.

They have reportedly resisted diplomatic outreach, including efforts involving the Strait of Hormuz, and shown internal frictions amid sanctions and a US military blockade.

Ailam noted the leaders are likely preparing for conventional airstrikes but that ‘Israel’ has long developed unconventional options.

“Israel will use its imagination, its intelligence and the ability of the Israelis to surprise and turn the table in ways you can not anticipate,” he said.

U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated the conflict “is going to get wrapped up soon,” while senators have offered differing assessments of potential escalation.

Retired US General Jack Keane has advocated targeting Iranian leadership alongside nuclear, energy, and missile infrastructure, citing improved intelligence from recent ceasefire periods.

Ailam argued a successful surprise leadership strike could have profound psychological effects: “The effect is enormous, especially on the psychology of the enemy. Imagine after the attack there’s a conversation somewhere in a bunker with the top echelons of Iran and everybody’s looking to the left and to the right and thinking the guy next to him is a spy.”

Analysts expect any renewed US or Israeli strikes to trigger strong Iranian retaliation aimed at survival.

Former ‘Israeli’ military Major General Yaakov Amidror noted that attacks on Gulf energy facilities could provide ‘Israel’ grounds to strike Iran’s energy sector extensively, potentially setting it back decades, though he stressed neutralizing nuclear and missile capabilities as the priority.

The report comes as Mojtaba Khamenei has recently met senior commanders and ordered readiness for responses “without geographical limitation.”