Tel Aviv High-Rise Hit by Iran Concealed Secretive US-Israeli Facility, Site 81
A recent investigation uncovers Israel's concealment of a joint U.S. military bunker under a residential building in Tel Aviv, prompting scrutiny over the practice of using urban environments for military purposes.
An underground military facility in central Tel Aviv, referred to as Site 81, is believed to have been targeted in Iranian missile strikes on June 13. This information comes following a detailed geolocation analysis conducted by The Grayzone.
The United States constructed the facility beneath the luxurious Da Vinci apartment complex, where it functions as a clandestine intelligence command and control center, jointly managed by the Israeli and US military forces. Its presence remained unconfirmed to the public before the recent attack.
Iranian missiles struck northern Tel Aviv, prompting Israeli authorities to rapidly secure the area, thereby restricting journalist access and preventing documentation of the damage.
Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst reported from the scene near HaKirya, Israel’s Security Ministry headquarters, that a building on the compound had just been struck. Shortly thereafter, police officers swiftly escorted Yingst away from the location.
Research has uncovered that the Da Vinci Towers are positioned directly above the subterranean Site 81 bunker. This facility is situated just south of Canarit Towers, an Israeli Air Force site, and to the north of the HaKirya Bridge. Leaked emails, public documents, and Israeli media reports suggest that Site 81 functions as a high-security intelligence hub, equipped with electromagnetic shielding.
A report from the US Army Corps of Engineers in 2013 confirmed intentions to enlarge the bunker to a size of 6,000 square meters. However, the precise location was not revealed until now. A geolocated photograph has identified Site 81 as being located within the Da Vinci complex, near a children’s playground and a newly established community center. Critics argue this setup illustrates the military’s strategy of situating sensitive facilities within civilian areas.
Israel frequently charges its opponents with employing civilians as “human shields,” yet the location of Site 81 prompts speculation about whether the nation might be employing a comparable tactic.
A settler expressed that they now understand they have been paying 12,000 shekels, equivalent to approximately $3,650 USD, monthly to safeguard the Kirya, which is Israel’s central military headquarters.
Da Vinci Towers’ commercial areas accommodate companies linked to military intelligence. AI21 Labs, established by ex-members of the IOF’s Unit 8200, has acknowledged participation in creating a military AI tool aimed at Palestinians. The company secured office space on the fourth and fifth floors in the latter part of 2023.
The Canarit Towers, constructed through a joint venture between Danya Cebus and Solel Boneh, subsequently under the influence of Los Angeles developer Netanel “Naty” Saidoff, a notable personality in Israeli-American circles, were initially designed for the Air Force headquarters. These structures are equipped with advanced blast mitigation systems to guarantee optimal security measures.
Infrastructure linked to Israeli-American interests includes Perimeter 81, now integrated into the publicly traded Check Point Technologies, situated in close proximity to Site 81. According to U.S. contracting records, M+W Group (currently known as Exyte) and Oxford Construction were responsible for significant construction and expansion phases of Site 81, with contracts running between 2011 and 2019.
Recent disclosures of confidential communications between ex-NATO Commander James Stavridis and former Israeli Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi bolster evidence regarding Site 81’s operational significance as a command and control center. Stavridis stated in a 2015 correspondence, “Hi Gabi, I am working with an exciting company called Think Logical here in the USA. They build command and control networks, and just won a big contract out at Site 81 with the IDF [Israel Defense Forces].”
The emails, sourced from an archive maintained by the US nonprofit Distributed Denial of Secrets, indicate potential high-level coordination involving retired Israeli generals and American contractors.
Satellite imagery of the Da Vinci Towers and adjacent regions continues to be heavily restricted on platforms like Google Maps and Yandex, highlighting the persistent limitations on public access to sensitive Israeli military locales.
A report by France 24 highlighted the delayed media coverage in Israel regarding the Iranian strike, suggesting it was possibly due to imposed censorship.
The strategic location of Site 81, situated within a densely populated civilian area close to playgrounds, commercial centers, and residential skyscrapers, highlights the intricate relationship between military confidentiality and urban living.
Experts indicate that this highlights Israel’s strategy of embedding its intelligence infrastructure within urban areas, which restricts independent verification and complicates the assessment of risks during regional conflicts.
