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Intelligence penetration, counterintelligence, and the Iran–Israel covert struggle

Khoshnood, Ardavan M. LU orcid ; Hajizadeh, Moloud and Khoshnood, Arvin LU (2026) In Small Wars and Insurgencies 37(6). p.1377-1411
Abstract
The Israel – Iran intelligence contest exemplifies hybrid conflict conducted below the threshold of open war. This study examines Israel’s penetration of Iran’s intelligence and security apparatus and the Islamic Republic’s counterintelligence (CI) response using open-source material within a dual-lens framework. Lens 1 traces Israeli operations from early assassinations and cyber sabotage to the 2024 killing of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Operation Rising Lion in June 2025, highlighting a doctrine of strategic gradualism based on HUMINT cultivation, technological compromise, and synchronized decapitation. Lens 2 shows how Iran’s fragmented, politicized CI system impeded adaptation, reinforcing institutional redundancy rather than reform.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Iran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Intelligence, Counterintelligence
in
Small Wars and Insurgencies
volume
37
issue
6
pages
1377 - 1411
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:105040950791
ISSN
0959-2318
DOI
10.1080/09592318.2026.2677679
project
The Intelligence Apparatus of the Islamic Republic of Iran
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9453560f-44b6-493f-b895-9cb32824dde9
date added to LUP
2026-06-09 20:11:04
date last changed
2026-08-20 07:33:34
@article{9453560f-44b6-493f-b895-9cb32824dde9,
  abstract     = {{The Israel – Iran intelligence contest exemplifies hybrid conflict conducted below the threshold of open war. This study examines Israel’s penetration of Iran’s intelligence and security apparatus and the Islamic Republic’s counterintelligence (CI) response using open-source material within a dual-lens framework. Lens 1 traces Israeli operations from early assassinations and cyber sabotage to the 2024 killing of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Operation Rising Lion in June 2025, highlighting a doctrine of strategic gradualism based on HUMINT cultivation, technological compromise, and synchronized decapitation. Lens 2 shows how Iran’s fragmented, politicized CI system impeded adaptation, reinforcing institutional redundancy rather than reform.}},
  author       = {{Khoshnood, Ardavan M. and Hajizadeh, Moloud and Khoshnood, Arvin}},
  issn         = {{0959-2318}},
  keywords     = {{Iran; Islamic Republic of Iran; Israel; Intelligence; Counterintelligence}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{1377--1411}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{Small Wars and Insurgencies}},
  title        = {{Intelligence penetration, counterintelligence, and the Iran–Israel covert struggle}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09592318.2026.2677679}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/09592318.2026.2677679}},
  volume       = {{37}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}