In the contemporary era, the boundaries of warfare are rapidly blurring, expanding beyond traditional domains of fighter jets and missiles to include cyberattacks, situational awareness, and the engineering of public consciousness.
Both Israel and India, each confronting distinct yet analogous threats from Iran and Pakistan respectively, have developed sophisticated capabilities in artificial intelligence–based warfare, cyber operations, and strategic narrative shaping.
These developments reflect a shared understanding: the control of information, not only firepower—is emerging as a decisive factor in modern conflict.
In June 2025, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion in response to a series of proxy attacks on its strategic assets, attributed to Iranian-backed elements. The operation showcased full-spectrum integration of HUMINT, SIGINT, and cutting-edge AI-driven systems.
Precision strikes were executed against nuclear infrastructure, command centers, and weapons convoys, with Israel demonstrating the capability to detect and neutralize mobile targets within minutes.
This was enabled by an AI-based “closed loop” targeting system that seamlessly combined real-time video analytics, unmanned combat drones, and distributed autonomous fire control protocols.
Simultaneously, Israeli cyber operations targeted Iranian financial institutions, water systems, and digital platforms. Iran retaliated not only with cyberattacks, but also by deploying disinformation campaigns, including sophisticated deepfakes aimed at generating public panic and diplomatic confusion.
In this evolving battlespace, the contest over real-time narrative control became central: Iran sought to craft a perception of military success through synthetic visual propaganda, while Israel countered with controlled transparency, verified imagery, and strategic deployment of media assets.
This dimension of conflict—often termed “operational consciousness”—transcends the kinetic realm. It reflects a new understanding in which the public image of a military operation is no longer an afterthought but an intrinsic part of its execution.
How perception management becomes a weapon
In this framework, perception management becomes a weapon in its own right, shaping deterrence, legitimacy, and strategic outcomes on both domestic and global stages.
Operation Sindoor, launched by India in May 2025 following the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, marked a turning point in the country’s strategy against state-sponsored terrorism.
The operation employed armed drones, ballistic missiles, and multi-layered intelligence—showcasing close coordination between military forces and the diplomatic apparatus.
Yet beyond the physical battlefield, a parallel confrontation unfolded in the digital domain: disinformation campaigns, strategic denials, targeted leaks, and the dissemination of manipulated videos became tools of psychological warfare. The fog of battle evolved into a strategic fog, with narrative control becoming a central axis of escalation.
Operation Sindoor illustrated not only a tactical response but a broader doctrinal shift. For the first time, India explicitly declared that any future terrorist attack would be treated as an “act of war”—a declarative move that collapses the distinction between non-state actors and their state sponsors.
In doing so, India drew closer to the Israeli deterrence model, wherein responsibility is attributed directly to sovereign states harboring terrorist elements. This new doctrine reflects a posture of flexible deterrence—simultaneously assertive and calculated—but also introduces a heightened risk of uncontrolled escalation in future crises.
As in Israel’s Operation Am Kalavi, Operation Sindoor demonstrated that the battle for narrative dominance unfolds concurrently with kinetic operations—not merely as post-facto public relations. However, while Israel operates a highly centralized and institutionalized system of consciousness management, India faced internal fragmentation.
A discernible gap emerged between military communications and media narratives, resulting in contradictory messaging and increasing the potential for misperception—both domestically and internationally.
Beyond regional contexts, there is a common thread connecting the cases: the strategic partnership between Israel and India, which has deepened over the past decade and has become a central pillar of Indian national security.
India imports advanced security equipment worth over $1 billion a year from Israel, including the Barak-8 air defense system, precision missiles, and drones.
Since 2019, India has used Israeli weapons in combat operations – including Space bombs in the Balakot attack. In addition, over 16,000 light machine guns, and cyber and ICT systems have been purchased. The collaborations also include joint exercises, knowledge transfer, and investments in research and development.
This partnership is not only technical – it is also ideological: Israel serves as a model for India for the effective use of force against terrorism, for the use of consciousness for international legitimacy, and for an innovative combination of technology, diplomacy, and deterrence.
The Rising Lion and “Sindur” operations herald a new era in which mind control is a deterrent force after all. Information flows faster than missiles, And the narrative – if constructed correctly – creates a cumulative effect of legitimacy, power and measured response.
The partnership between Israel and India illustrates how technological-strategic sharing can translate operational knowledge into narrative power. In an era of disinformation, autonomy and international pressure, it is precisely alliances based on shared values and security innovation that will determine the next rules of the game.
Dr. Lauren Dagan Amos is a member of Forum Dvorah, which promotes women in Israel’s foreign and defense policy community.