Iraqi Pilot Defects to Israel with MiG-21 in Secret 1966 Mossad Operation

Sixty years ago, in August 1966, Mossad and the Israeli Air Force executed a covert operation known as "Operation Diamond," in which an Iraqi fighter pilot defected to Israel with his MiG-21 jet. The pilot, Munir Redfa, was covertly brought from Europe to Israel under a false identity and Israeli passport. Mossad forged an Arabic letter from an anonymous Iraqi pilot requesting asylum and permission to land in Israel, which was distributed to all Israeli Air Force bases.

Redfa was secretly trained and briefed on covert communication methods, including the use of coded messages hidden in radio songs broadcast by Kol Israel. The defection was planned for August 14-16, 1966, with Redfa enduring long waits in his helmet before receiving the green light to fly. Upon landing, he was flown by helicopter to central Israel, where he reunited with his family, who were given a cover story as Jewish refugees from Iran and housed in northern Tel Aviv.

The United States showed great interest in the MiG-21, which they were encountering in the Vietnam War. The aircraft was eventually dismantled and shipped to the US for analysis. Israeli pilot Danny Shapira trained American pilots on the MiG-21 and obtained advanced missile technology for Israel.

Redfa's family struggled to assimilate in Israel, particularly his wife, who insisted on maintaining Christian practices. Mossad created a new identity for them and relocated them to an undisclosed location, providing ongoing support. Redfa later died of heart disease, with his family continuing to receive assistance from Israel.

Today, the MiG-21 from Operation Diamond is displayed at the Israeli Air Force Museum in Hatzor, painted with red stripes and marked with "007" as a tribute to Mossad's espionage legacy.