“I told him: 'We have to do it.’ And he said, ‘You’re right, it’s gotta be done,’” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recalled of informing US President Donald Trump about the planned operation, according to the documentary.
The new Channel 13 documentary describes what it calls an unprecedented mission — both in scale and technical demands.
Specially trained agents deployed inside Iran installed and operated smuggled heavy missile systems, which were then used to strike the Islamic Republic’s ballistic missile launchers and air-defense batteries, aiding Israel’s broader campaign, the report said.
Negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program began under Trump’s administration with a 60-day ultimatum. On day 61, June 13, Israel launched its surprise 12-day campaign, coinciding with the eve of the sixth round of talks with Washington.
By the ninth day of fighting, the US carried out strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, with Trump later boasting they had “obliterated” the program.
The Israeli operation involved about 100 foreign operatives, raising major logistical and command challenges, the report said. Channel 13's interviews with senior ministers suggest broader aims beyond disabling equipment: damaging underground facilities, weakening command structures and shaping events to sway US policy.
According to the report, leaders even discussed targeting Iran’s supreme leader if the chance arose.
Defense Minister Israel Katz is quoted as saying, “If there had been an opportunity, we would have [targeted him].”
Netanyahu reportedly told defense officials: “We are going to destroy the Iranian nuclear project as best we can. We aren’t waiting for a green light from the US, and it doesn’t matter if they say no.”
Secrecy, risk and the politics of optics
Secrecy was paramount, the documentary said. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar recounted discussing a friend’s daughter’s upcoming wedding even as he knew it would not go ahead due to the looming offensive. Even families of top officials were mostly kept uninformed.
Brig. Gen. Gilad Keinan, the Israeli Air Force operations chief, said confidence was high in recovering downed crews, but extracting them from Iran was less certain. He added that many Iranian jets stayed grounded for fear of being shot down by their own defenses.
Cabinet transcripts revealed concern with optics. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer suggested images of destruction would help persuade Trump.
Netanyahu agreed, urging strikes on fuel tanks and a Basij facility, vowing to deliver a “birthday greeting” to the US president in the form of a decisive blow, according to the documentary.
Channel 13 said nuclear and missile sites were damaged and nuclear materials partly destroyed in the operation.
Air attacks killed nuclear scientists along with hundreds of military personnel and civilians.
Tehran answered with over 500 ballistic missiles and 1,100 drones, inflicting heavy casualties and widespread destruction, killing 31 Israeli civilians and one off-duty soldier.
