Direct proof of use
TWZ reported on June 13, 2025, that video footage appeared to show Israeli operatives inside Iran operating Rafael Spike precision-guided missiles during Operation Rising Lion. The report connected the apparent Spike activity to Israeli attacks from within Iran against air-defense assets and other targets at the start of the campaign.
A June 16 TWZ follow-up reported that Iranian authorities displayed what they said were remnants of Rafael Spike precision-guided missile systems left behind after the opening phase of Israel's campaign. TWZ cited Iranian reporting that some customized Spike launchers were designed for air-defense suppression and equipped for internet-based automation and remote control.
Sources: TWZ Israeli Commandos Inside Iran, TWZ Spike Remnants in Iran
Timeline
The conflict opened on June 13, 2025, when Israel began a major military operation against Iran that included air strikes and reported covert action. CRS reported that Iran retaliated with ballistic-missile waves against Israel.
TWZ's same-day reporting placed the apparent Spike activity in the opening covert phase, before or alongside larger Israeli Air Force strikes. By June 16, Iranian media had shown components described as Spike-system remnants, giving the first public post-strike material evidence tied to the missile family.
Sources: CRS Israel-Iran Conflict, TWZ Israeli Commandos Inside Iran, TWZ Spike Remnants in Iran
Operational role
The sourced role was covert precision strike and air-defense suppression, not a public transfer or conventional ground-force deployment. TWZ reported that Mossad-linked operatives had prepared drones and missiles inside Iran and that an air-defense site near Tehran was among the targets reportedly prosecuted from within the country.
Spike NLOS is the relevant branch identified in the reporting. Rafael markets Spike NLOS as the non-line-of-sight member of the Spike family for land, air, and naval launch, while TWZ noted that its covered-launch and man-in-the-loop characteristics made it suitable for a concealed precision mission. Those characteristics explain the reported use case, but the conflict-use claim rests on the TWZ reporting and imagery discussion.
Sources: TWZ Israeli Commandos Inside Iran, TWZ Spike Remnants in Iran, Rafael SPIKE Family
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