Israeli press reports that the Iran protests used to justify the war were partly run by Mossad, which is bad news for the case that the war was a response to organic unrest.

• Israeli newspaper Ynet reports Mossad spent four years building a network inside Iran to stir mass protests and arm minority groups like the Kurds.
• The early protests started organically over crushing sanctions and bad economic conditions, then turned violent once Mossad operatives got involved.
• The New York Times reported that Mossad chief David Barnea pitched Netanyahu and senior Trump officials on igniting riots in Iran to help collapse the government.
• Netanyahu and Trump backed the plan over objections from some US officials and other Israeli intelligence agencies, then launched the war and killed the Ayatollah.
• US media is staying quiet on the manipulation angle, while Israeli media brags about it ahead of their own election.

Outlook: Expect more leaks from Israeli press about the operation, but little US coverage tying the protests to Mossad as the war continues.