US provides covert support to Israels military operations against Iran

Tehran and Beirut Assassination Highlights US-Israeli Intelligence Cooperation

A series of high-profile assassinations in Tehran and Beirut have shed light on the strategic reliance of Israel’s intelligence agency, the Mossad, on US intelligence cooperation. The February 2026 assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with several family members, was reportedly a joint operation between Israel and the United States.

According to experts from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the mission relied heavily on CIA-provided target banks and real-time electronic surveillance. US MQ-9 Reaper drones were used to facilitate precision targeting, while US Tomahawk missiles and B-52 bombers handled the destruction of Iran’s hardened missile sites.

The pattern of cooperation between Israel and the US mirrors previous operations, including the September 2024 assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. In this case, Israeli Air Force dropped US-made bunker-buster bombs to reach a command centre underground.

CIA tracking and intelligence gathering played a crucial role in the success of the operation, with the agency confirming Khamenei’s presence at the Tehran leadership compound on the fateful Saturday morning. The joint US-Israeli decision to adjust the attack’s timing from night to day was also reportedly influenced by CIA intelligence.

Experts argue that Israel’s reliance on US intelligence cooperation is often downplayed domestically, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presenting it as a personal victory. However, experts like Mamoun Abu Amer note that this cooperation is a structural reality of Israel’s intelligence operations, relying heavily on international agencies such as the CIA and MI6.

Recent operations have highlighted the importance of local collaborators and sociopolitical fractures in Israel’s intelligence efforts. The July 2024 assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, for example, was facilitated by sleeper penetration and exploitation of internal opposition factions.

Source: Al Jazeera