In one of the most daring acts of modern espionage, Catherine Perez-Shakdam—a French-born woman of Jewish descent—has emerged as the central figure in what many now call “the most successful intelligence breach in Iran’s history.” Her covert efforts, now allegedly linked to Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, have shaken the core of Iran’s military and intelligence apparatus.
Operation Rising Lion: A Strike Years in the Making
On June 13, 2025, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion—a precision strike involving warplanes and AI-powered drones that neutralized a large portion of Iran’s air defense systems. Nearly 15 senior Iranian commanders were reportedly killed, crippling Iran’s ability to mount a retaliation. But behind the scenes of this stunning military success was a years-long infiltration, orchestrated not with missiles, but with charm, trust—and deception.
The Mysterious ‘Black Lady’ of Mossad
Catherine Perez-Shakdam wasn’t your typical spy. Raised in a secular Jewish family in France, she converted to Islam, married a Yemeni Muslim, and moved to the Middle East. Later divorced, she reportedly became disillusioned with the rise of Islamic extremism and Iran’s expanding influence in the region. According to intelligence sources, these personal grievances made her the ideal recruit for Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad.
Over nearly a decade, she embedded herself within Iran’s upper echelons. Fluent in Islamic customs and Shia ideology, Catherine gained access to the most secure circles of power, forming bonds with the wives of Iranian officials, frequenting their homes, and eventually gaining audiences with top-tier figures—including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, former President Ebrahim Raisi, and even General Qasem Soleimani before his 2020 assassination.
From Journalism to Espionage
Catherine’s journey began with a critical op-ed on U.S. military policy in the Middle East. It caught the attention of Iranian media, earning her invitations to state-run television programs. Her articles aligned with Shia narratives, and she soon became a regular contributor to official platforms—including, reportedly, Khamenei.ir, the website of Iran’s Supreme Leader.
This cover of journalism allowed her to photograph sensitive locations, attend restricted events, and collect invaluable intelligence—all under the guise of a sympathetic foreign commentator.
The Double Life
Unknown to Iranian authorities, Shakdam was allegedly feeding information back to Israeli handlers. Using photographs, coded messages, and seemingly benign blog posts, she mapped critical Iranian military infrastructure and identified key personnel. Sources believe this intelligence was pivotal in the planning of Operation Rising Lion.
In perhaps her most remarkable feat, she managed to build personal rapport with the Supreme Leader himself. Reports suggest she was even invited to write content on his behalf. However, following the June 13 attack, all digital traces of her contributions were wiped clean from Iranian archives.
Vanished Before the Storm
Catherine disappeared from public view on June 10, 2025—just three days before Israel’s devastating strike. Iran has since launched a sweeping internal manhunt, executing at least three alleged collaborators and plastering cities with her image. But as of now, Catherine Perez-Shakdam remains missing. Some believe she has assumed a new identity and is already embedded in another region under Mossad’s direction.
Iran’s Intelligence Catastrophe
The fallout from this operation has shaken the regime. The coordinated airstrike was devastating—but the psychological damage of discovering such a deep infiltration may run even deeper. According to Iranian officials, Catherine had unrestricted access to high-level conversations, defense locations, and nuclear plans—privileged information few outsiders had ever come close to.
A Modern Espionage Legend
Catherine Perez-Shakdam’s tale reads like a cinematic spy thriller: one woman, driven by faith, identity, and a personal mission, infiltrated a regime from within—and may have set the stage for one of the most strategically impactful operations in Israeli history.
As global tensions rise and Iran scrambles to recover, one truth remains clear: modern warfare is no longer just fought on battlefields, but in living rooms, blogs, and belief systems—and Catherine’s story will be studied for decades as a masterclass in human intelligence.