New details have emerged about a secret Israeli plan aimed at overthrowing Iran’s government through a large-scale air campaign and an incursion by thousands of Kurdish fighters, in the hope that the operation would trigger mass protests inside Iran and threaten the government’s survival.
According to Israel’s Channel 13, Mossad had spent recent years working on several projects intended to bring about political change in Iran. Alongside military planning, these efforts included a secret international political and media influence campaign known as the “Garden Project”.
Channel 13 reported that work on an ambitious military plan began following the conclusion of Operation Rising Lion in June 2025. The plan was given the code name “Puss in Boots”.
Mossad chief David Barnea was said to have strongly promoted the plan and believed overthrowing the Iranian government was an achievable objective. Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was identified as a figure who could potentially lead the country at a later stage and was referred to during closed meetings as “the friend”.
Israeli Air Strikes and a Kurdish Ground Incursion
According to Channel 13, the operational concept involved launching a major Israeli aerial attack in the Kurdish region to open a corridor through which Kurdish forces could advance into Iran.
The idea was that success during the initial stages of the operation could trigger widespread protests involving large numbers of Iranians, creating conditions that might help bring down the government.
As part of preparations for the operation, thousands of Kurdish fighters arrived in Israel, where they underwent training for various operational scenarios, according to the channel.
The fighters were also reportedly informed that Israeli support would be withdrawn if they targeted civilians.
When widespread protests erupted in Iran in January 2026, Israel began examining whether the operation could be brought forward. However, implementation was postponed because the participating forces were not yet ready, according to Channel 13.
The channel added that a February meeting at the White House between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump included discussions over the timing of the operation and Israel’s level of preparedness.
According to the report, Trump asked Netanyahu when Israel wanted to launch the operation and when it would be ready.
Barnea estimated that overthrowing the Iranian government could take around one year, while Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir believed the mission could require as long as three years.
Channel 13 reported that Trump ultimately gave the green light, after which Israel began the military operation.
Washington Orders Israel to Stop the Kurdish Advance
Events, however, did not proceed according to the original plan.
Only days later, the United States ordered that Kurdish forces not be allowed to enter Iran.
An Israeli official quoted by Channel 13 said the instruction arrived just three days after the campaign began and consisted of a clear and concise message: “Don’t.”
According to Israeli officials cited by the channel, the change in Washington’s position resulted from opposition by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, combined with pressure from US Vice President JD Vance.
Attempts by Israel’s political leadership and Mossad to persuade Washington to reverse the decision were unsuccessful.
Faced with the setback, Barnea proposed an alternative version of the operation. However, officials within Israel’s security establishment considered the new plan weaker than the original concept.
The alternative ultimately failed.
Israeli officials now believe that attempting to develop a new plan during the war was a mistake because it had not reached the same level of readiness and operational maturity as the original plan and failed to produce the results Israel had hoped to achieve.
Mossad’s Secret “Garden Project”
Channel 13 also revealed another project pursued by Mossad in recent years under the name “Garden Project”.
According to the channel, the initiative was a large and expensive global influence campaign launched after 7 October and managed from outside Mossad headquarters by a well-known campaign strategist.
The project prompted an unusual internal investigation within Mossad after allegations emerged concerning irregularities in financial management.
Mossad maintained, according to the report, that the investigative committee uncovered no financial embezzlement and that its purpose was to regulate procedures surrounding the project.
The revelations come as David Barnea approaches the end of his term as Mossad chief, with Roman Gofman set to take over leadership of the agency. The campaign adviser who managed the project has also left.
The details reported by Channel 13 reveal the multiple tracks through which Israel sought to influence the future of Iran’s government, ranging from military plans designed to exploit internal unrest and Kurdish forces to international influence operations. Those efforts ultimately encountered political and operational obstacles that prevented Israel from achieving the objectives its leadership had set.
