Israeli media outlets have voiced alarm over Iranian claims of possessing detailed profiles of Israeli Air Force pilots and commanders involved in recent strikes on Iran, calling the disclosures “serious and dangerous.” Iranian state-linked sources reportedly provided dossiers with names, ranks, flight histories, base assignments as well as potential endangerments to individuals or escalate retaliatory risks–information critics believe could endanger individuals or raise retaliatory risks that critics fear could endanger individuals as well as escalate retaliatory risks
According to Iranian reports, state TV aired images and personal details about pilots considered key in strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and military infrastructure during what has come to be known as the 12-day war. One pilot named in particular was “Major Yael Ash,” whom Iran declared was no longer known. (FTD +7) PressTV +7 and Reuters (+7) reported on these actions by broadcasting images with personal details including those foreseen being involved with this alleged violation – among them “Major Yael Ash” was named among others (FTD +7) for being identified; FDD +7/PressTV +7/Reuters).
Israeli officials and analysts strongly condemned the data release, warning that its publication of individual identities – including addresses and service records – crosses a red line in cyber and psychological warfare. Israeli press described this act as an intentional step escalation and warned it as “if true, it poses a direct threat to operational security and personal safety of aircrew.” IRNA English reported the news.
Western investigators and experts, however, question the veracity of leaks. A policy brief from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) claims that leaked spreadsheets may have been falsified for propaganda reasons and highlights anomalies such as surname frequencies which suggest their data manipulation for political propaganda purposes rather than providing genuine intelligence. The FDD highlights statistical anomalies like surname frequencies that seem out of place or unusually aged active-duty pilots as indicators that the data could have been manufactured rather than reflecting reality.
One FDD analyst arrived at this conclusion after concluding: Tehran is fabricating data leaks about Israeli pilots. FDD concluded that much of this data is either generic or publicly accessible–or possibly altered so as to appear more credible for domestic narrative drives.
Iranian authorities have defended the leak as a victory for intelligence warfare against Israel. State media described this operation as dismantling myths of Israeli invulnerability: “We See You, We Know Your Pilots.” Some reports claimed Iran’s intelligence established not just names and locations of pilots but personal lives too – branding them “flying assassins” now exposed and vulnerable (PressTV).
Domestic fallout in Israel has been swift. Government spokespeople reassured citizens that Israel’s defense system remains sound, while warning that any attempt at doxxing could undermine national morale and lead to retaliatory measures by service members. Security commentators pointed out that by exposing pilots they risk lessening Israel’s deterrence effect on air efforts; possibly leading them to change operational procedures for higher-risk missions.
Strategically, this incident illustrates an intensifying asymmetric conflict between Tehran and Tel Aviv. On June 2025, Israel’s Mossad and Air Force launched a coordinated drone-and-airstrike campaign targeting Iranian missile infrastructure and defense systems, and Iran countered by attacking Israel using missiles or drones while initiating psychological campaigns focused on cyberwarfare and counterintelligence (cyberwar).
Iran’s newly formed Supreme National Defense Council was recently unveiled, and will likely oversee Iran’s intelligence operations and devise counter-retaliatory strategies, signaling Tehran’s shift toward more explicit state-directed power plays in this conflict. According to AP News
Experts warn that leaked dossiers, whether real or staged, present a powerful narrative which challenges Israel’s operational secrecy while sowing fear in the target communities. One security analyst suggested: “This could be psychological warfare masquerading as intelligence.”
Israel media have depicted Iran’s disclosure of pilot profiles as a dangerous escalation–raises valid concerns about operational security and moral boundaries–but analysts remain divided over its authenticity: seeing either an intelligence breach or manipulative propaganda scheme as the primary motives.