The ‘Boot Cat’ Military Blueprint
Israeli Channel 13 has disclosed details of a classified operation designed to dismantle the Iranian regime. Codenamed “Boot Cat,” the strategy emerged following the conclusion of Operation “Rising Lion” in June 2025. The plan envisioned a massive aerial assault on Iranian Kurdistan to create a corridor for thousands of Kurdish fighters to penetrate deep into Iranian territory. The objective was to trigger widespread civil unrest that would destabilize the government.
David Barnea, then-head of Mossad, championed the initiative, believing the regime’s fall was achievable within a year. In contrast, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir estimated the task could take up to three years. The strategy also included identifying former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a potential future leader, referred to internally as “the Friend.” Preparations involved training thousands of Kurdish militants in Israel, with explicit instructions that targeting civilians would result in the withdrawal of Israeli support.
Diplomatic Intervention Halts Operations
As protests erupted in Iran in January 2026, Israel considered accelerating the timeline but delayed due to force readiness issues. A meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump in February addressed the operational status. Although Trump reportedly gave the green light, the campaign faced immediate obstruction. Just three days after the military phase began, Washington issued a direct order: “Don’t.” This directive prevented Kurdish troops from entering Iran.
Israeli officials attributed this reversal to strong opposition from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and pressure from US Vice President JD Vance. Despite efforts by Israeli political and intelligence circles to persuade Washington to reverse its stance, the blockade held. A proposed alternative plan by Barnea was deemed inferior by security officials and ultimately failed. Current assessments suggest that attempting to formulate new strategies during active conflict was a strategic error lacking the maturity of the original blueprint.
The ‘Garden Project’ and Internal Investigations
Beyond military avenues, Mossad executed a parallel initiative known as the “Garden Project.” Launched after October 7, this expensive global influence campaign aimed to shape international perception of Iran. The project, managed by an external consultant, later triggered an extraordinary internal investigation at Mossad over alleged financial mismanagement. While the inquiry found no evidence of embezzlement, it focused on administrative compliance.
These revelations coincide with leadership transitions at Mossad, as David Barnea prepares to hand over control to Roman Gofman. The consultant overseeing the Garden Project has already departed. The disclosure highlights Israel’s multi-track approach to influencing Iran’s future, combining kinetic military options with soft power campaigns, both of which were ultimately constrained by geopolitical realities and diplomatic resistance.
