New Delhi: In a sensational revelation, Israeli intelligence agency Mossad reportedly launched a covert operation—codenamed Operation Zeppelin—to shield Indian billionaire Gautam Adani from a global smear campaign linked to the Hindenburg Research report, IANS claimed quoting a media report.

The operation was allegedly ordered directly by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who expressed deep concern over the timing of the Hindenburg report, which surfaced just days before Adani Ports was set to finalize a $1.2 billion deal to acquire a majority stake in Israel’s strategic Haifa Port, the report said. Netanyahu, who was personally involved in the port deal discussions, feared the controversy could jeopardise not only Adani’s business reputation but also a key pillar of India-Israel economic cooperation.

According to the report, the Mossad mission mobilised two elite units—Tzomet, specializing in human intelligence, and Keshet, focused on cyber operations. Their brief: trace the origins and networks allegedly orchestrating the campaign against Adani. The operation spanned several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and parts of Europe, targeting individuals linked to hedge funds, investigative journalists, activist lawyers, and even political operatives purportedly connected to the Biden administration and billionaire George Soros.

Among the most startling claims in the report is that Mossad surveilled senior Indian opposition leaders, including Sam Pitroda, chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, and tracked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Pitroda, based in Illinois, allegedly had his private home servers hacked by Mossad agents, who were seeking digital evidence of coordination between Indian political figures and the Hindenburg team. The report claims that encrypted chatrooms and backchannel communications were found, suggesting possible ties between opposition figures and individuals linked to Hindenburg Research.

Mossad is also reported to have tracked Rahul Gandhi’s travel and meetings, including an alleged encounter in May 2023 in Palo Alto, California, with persons connected to the Hindenburg network. The agency is said to have referred to Gandhi as a "bitter dynast" in internal communications.

By early 2024, Mossad had reportedly compiled a 353-page intelligence report, known internally as the Zeppelin Dossier, which outlined a network of organizations—including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), and elements of Western media—allegedly involved in the anti-Adani campaign. Portions of the dossier were reportedly shared with international media houses, though only the French outlet Mediapart chose to publish related findings.

The controversy intensified in late 2024 when the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission opened investigations into Adani Group entities. However, these legal proceedings reportedly collapsed under scrutiny, leading to the resignation of U.S. Attorney Breon Peace. Around the same time, Adani’s legal counsel, led by Quinn Emanuel, served Hindenburg Research with a legal notice.

In a dramatic development, Hindenburg founder Nathan Anderson reportedly agreed to dissolve the firm in exchange for legal immunity in January 2025—a deal said to have been revoked shortly after Donald Trump assumed office as U.S. President on January 20, 2025.

Throughout this period, Mossad is believed to have kept key Indian opposition figures under close watch, convinced that the campaign against Adani had broader geopolitical motives aimed at weakening India-Israel ties. IANS