Israel conducted a yearslong secret operation to groom former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as an intelligence asset. This clandestine effort aimed to influence one of Iran's most prominent leaders to serve Israeli interests.

The operation culminated in a dramatic attempt to transport the former president to an Israeli safe house during the early days of the war. This high-stakes maneuver was designed to secure him as a source and asset.

However, despite the extensive planning and effort involved in the cultivation process, the plan ultimately fell apart.