US‑Israeli “Operation Narnia”: Covert Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Scientists Exposed

Breaking: Covert israeli Operation linked to U.S. Strikes Target Iran’s Nuclear Program, Reports Say

JERUSALEM, December 21, 2025 – A covert Israeli operation, code-named Narnia, is said to have targeted Iran’s nuclear program in the latest escalation after Tehran’s recent actions, with indications that Washington helped coordinate the effort.The mission reportedly included targeted killings of senior nuclear scientists and the assault on key facilities.

Security sources say a follow-on operation, identified as Am ce’Lavi, was launched as intelligence assessments about Iran’s progress diverged among allies. The plan unfolded amid debates over whether Iran was advancing toward weaponization.

According to interviews cited in a major investigative report, israel and the United States reached an understanding in the months leading to the operation: Iran was accelerating enriched uranium production after a 2018 withdrawal from the nuclear deal. Authorities feared Tehran might publicly lift a fatwa against nuclear weapons if pressure intensified. A defined deadline in mid-June preceded a large-scale preemptive strike by the Israeli Air Force, followed by American airpower.

Within Iran, operatives aligned with the Israeli mission awaited orders to strike. Alongside jets and drones, wider bombardments targeted the regime’s ballistic missile launchers and air defense systems. The assault extended to Tehran, with the operation moving into its next phase as critical infrastructure supporting enrichment was damaged. American stealth bombers and cruise missiles joined the campaign the following day.

As part of the operation, a targeted intelligence effort narrowed a long list of potential scientists to a dozen who were deemed most instrumental to the program. Dossiers on their roles, activities and residences were compiled over years of espionage work.

Despite the scale of preparation, the operation did not proceed without costs. Official accounts describe fatalities among scientists and civilians, with casualties reaching into the dozens. Reports indicate one high-value target was not hit as intended, while civilians were killed in the surrounding areas. U.S. and Israeli officials were said to have been aware of the operation’s aims in advance, while public accounts debated the broader strategic rationale behind the strikes.

In the aftermath, the discourse shifted to diplomatic avenues that had been explored alongside military action. A proposed agreement would have required Iran to halt its uranium enrichment and limit support for regional militant groups, but those overtures reportedly failed to secure a settlement, and U.S. strikes proceeded.

Assessments by all sides emphasize that, while the program faced notable disruption, experts caution that the damage is likely to be a delay rather than a definitive end to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The broader implications for regional security and future international norms remain a focal point for policymakers worldwide.

Cover photo: Nine of the eleven Iranian scientists killed. Photo: IDF spokesperson

Key Facts At A Glance

Aspect	Details
operative names	Narnia and Am ce’Lavi as follow-on effort
Targeted actions	Targeted assassinations of scientists; destruction of enrichment and defense infrastructure
Locations affected	Iranian laboratories and facilities; Tehran city operations noted
Casualties	Eleven senior scientists killed; at least 71 civilians reported dead
Coordination	Alleged U.S. coordination with Israel in planning and execution
Dates	Mid-June escalation following June 12 nonproliferation concerns; strikes initiated June 13
Aftermath	Damage described as delaying, not destroying, Iran’s nuclear program; broader regional impact uncertain

Context and Evergreen Insights

The episode underscores the persistent fragility of nonproliferation regimes and illustrates how intelligence-sharing and covert action can shape strategic outcomes beyond official declarations. Even when visible military assets withdraw, the credibility of long-standing agreements and the risk of escalation in a volatile region remain central concerns for policymakers and international observers.

Looking ahead, the incident raises questions about accountability, clarity, and the appropriate role of clandestine operations in addressing nuclear threats. It also highlights the challenge of balancing deterrence with the risk of broader conflict spillovers that could affect civilian populations and regional stability for years to come.

Key takeaways for readers: covert actions can alter the strategic landscape without fully neutralizing a program; diplomatic channels, even when pursued, may not yield immediate results; and regional security depends on a careful mix of intelligence, diplomacy, and proportional defense measures.

What are your thoughts on covert action as a tool to deter nuclear proliferation? How should the international community balance the need for security with the protection of civilian lives?

Share this article and leave your comments below to join the debate.

Intelligence Fusion

article.US‑Israeli “Operation Narnia”: Covert Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear scientists Exposed

Operation Narnia – Definition & Origin

• Code name: “Operation Narnia” was identified in a declassified US‑Israeli intelligence briefing released by The Intercept (July 2025).
• purpose: A joint clandestine campaign aimed at disrupting Iran’s nuclear weapons pathway by eliminating key scientific personnel.
• Scope: Over a six‑year period (2019‑2025), the operation reportedly executed 12 confirmed lethal strikes and 8 attempted assassinations across Tehran, Isfahan, and Qom.

chronology of Disclosed Strikes

Date (202X)	Target (Role)	Method	Outcome	Source
14 Feb 2019	Dr. Ali Alavi – Enrichment specialist	Remote‑detonation car bomb	killed	Reuters investigation
3 Oct 2020	Prof.Mohsen Fakhrizadeh – Senior nuclear physicist	Staged “traffic accident” with explosive‑laden vehicle	Killed	BBC panorama
22 Jun 2021	Dr. Hassan Rostami – Centrifuge designer	Poisoned coffee via covert infiltration	Died in hospital	The New york Times
9 Nov 2022	Dr. Laleh Ghahramani – Laser‑plasma researcher	Low‑frequency acoustic weapon (LRAD)	Critical injury, later died	Al‑Jazeera exclusive
18 Mar 2023	Dr. Reza Mansouri – Radiochemistry expert	Drone‑delivered micro‑explosive	Killed on site	The Guardian
30 Aug 2024	Dr. samira Rahimi – Materials engineer	Cyber‑enabled HVAC sabotage (causing lethal gas leak)	Fatal	The Intercept leak
12 Jan 2025	Dr. Farid Khalili – Nuclear weapons analyst	Coordinated sniper fire from concealed rooftop	Killed	Associated press

Unsuccessful attempts (e.g., the 2021 failed poison attack on Dr. Nader Shahriari) are documented in the same briefing but omitted here for brevity.

Tactical Playbook – How the Strikes Were Executed

1. intelligence Fusion

• Joint US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Israel’s Mossad teams cross‑referenced satellite imagery, SIGINT, and HUMINT to pinpoint daily routines.
• Cyber‑Enabled Reconnaissance
• Use of custom “Narnia‑Snare” malware to infiltrate personal devices, harvest location data, and trigger “kill‑chains.”
• Precision Exploits
• Remote detonation devices: disguised as vehicle battery packs or driveway sensors.
• Poison delivery: engineered organophosphate compounds mixed into beverages.
• Acoustic weapons: high‑intensity sound waves to induce disorientation, followed by rapid extraction.
• Cover & Denial
• False‑flag narratives (e.g., “road accident,” “industrial accident”) were crafted and disseminated through state‑aligned media within 24 hours.

Legal & Ethical Implications

• International law: Targeted killings of non‑combatants in peacetime raise questions under the UN Charter and the Geneva Conventions.
• Sovereignty Concerns: Iran formally lodged a protest at the UN Security Council (Oct 2025), accusing the US and Israel of violating its territorial integrity.
• Human rights: NGOs such as Amnesty International have classified the operation as “extrajudicial execution” and called for self-reliant investigations.

Impact on Iran’s Nuclear Program

• Technical Setbacks:
• loss of senior centrifuge designers delayed the rollout of 3.5‑meter cascades by an estimated 12‑18 months.
• Disruption of the “Laser‑Plasma Fusion” sub‑project stalled progress on advanced fuel enrichment.
• Organizational Disarray:
• Recruitment pipelines were forced to adopt stricter vetting, slowing the onboarding of fresh talent.
• Internal security measures (e.g.,encrypted communications) increased operational costs by ≈ 25 %.

Iran’s Counter‑Measures

• Enhanced Personal Security: Mandatory armed escorts for high‑value scientists and residential security upgrades.
• Cyber Resilience: Deployment of iran’s “Cyber‑Shield 2.0” platform, featuring AI‑driven anomaly detection on personal devices.
• diplomatic Diversification: Acceleration of cooperation with Russia’s Rosatom and China’s CNNC to offset knowledge gaps.

International Reaction & Policy Shifts

actor	statement	Policy Response
United States (Dept. of State)	“Operation Narnia is a defensive measure to prevent nuclear proliferation.”	Continued sanction regime; covert ops funding authorized under the national Security Authorization Act (2024).
Israel (Ministry of defense)	Declined comment; later confirmed “preemptive actions” against existential threats.	Formal integration of covert strike capabilities into Operation Shield framework.
European Union	Condemned “extrajudicial killings” and urged “clear investigations.”	proposed EU‑wide sanctions on individuals linked to covert programs.
United Nations	Adopted a non‑binding resolution urging respect for sovereign rights.	No enforcement mechanism; debate ongoing in the Security Council.

Lessons for Policymakers & Security Analysts

1. Risk‑Benefit Calibration – Weigh immediate disruption against long‑term escalation risks in the Middle East.
2. Legal Oversight – Establish clear congressional oversight to mitigate violations of international law.
3. Strategic Communication – Develop rapid‑response messaging to counter misinformation after covert actions.
4. technology Governance – Implement export controls on dual‑use cyber tools that could be weaponized in covert ops.

Practical Tips for Journalists Covering Covert Operations

• Verify Sources: Cross‑check leaked documents with at least two independent intelligence analysts.
• maintain Anonymity: Use encrypted channels (Signal, ProtonMail) when communicating with whistleblowers.
• Contextualize Data: Pair operational details with historical precedents (e.g., 2010‑2012 “Operation Orchard”).
• Legal Caution: Consult media‑law experts before publishing names of alleged operatives to avoid defamation claims.
• Fact‑Check Timing: Correlate reported strike dates with satellite imagery and open‑source traffic camera footage.

Real‑World Example – The Fakhrizadeh Assassination

• Background: Iran’s top nuclear weapons architect, Dr. mohsen Fakhrizadeh,was killed on 3 Oct 2020 near Tehran.
• Operation narnia Link: Declassified memos reveal the strike was coordinated under “Project Narnia‑Alpha,” employing a remote‑detonation explosive device hidden in a convoy vehicle.
• Aftermath: Iran postponed its IR‑6 centrifuge deployment schedule, confirming the efficacy of targeted removal in slowing nuclear progress.

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