A previously undisclosed underground military bunker in central Tel Aviv, known as Site 81, was likely hit during Iranian missile strikes on June 13, according to a detailed geolocation analysis by The Grayzone.

Built by the United States and buried beneath the upscale Da Vinci apartment complex, the facility serves as a covert intelligence command and control center jointly operated by the Israeli and US militaries. Its existence had not been publicly confirmed prior to the strike.

When Iranian missiles targeted northern Tel Aviv, Israeli authorities swiftly cordoned off the area to prevent journalists from documenting the damage.

“The building on this compound was just hit,” reported Trey Yingst of Fox News at the scene near HaKirya, "Israel’s" Security Ministry headquarters. Within moments, police officers forcibly moved Yingst away from the site.

Geolocation of site 81

Analysis indicates that the Da Vinci Towers sit directly above the underground Site 81 bunker. The facility lies just south of the Israeli Air Force’s Canarit towers and north of the HaKirya Bridge. According to leaked emails, public records, and Israeli news reports, Site 81 is an electromagnetically shielded, high-security intelligence center.

A 2013 US Army Corps of Engineers report confirmed plans to expand the bunker to 6,000 square meters, though its exact location remained undisclosed until now. A geolocated photo shows Site 81 situated within the Da Vinci complex, adjacent to a children’s playground and a recently opened community center, a configuration critics say exemplifies the military practice of embedding sensitive installations among civilian populations.

"Israel" routinely accuses its adversaries of using civilians as “human shields", but the placement of Site 81 raises questions about whether the state is engaging in a similar strategy.

A settler said, “Today, I realize I’ve been paying 12,000 shekels [$3,650 USD] a month to protect the Kirya,” referring to "Israel’s" central military headquarters.

The Da Vinci Towers’ commercial spaces also house companies with ties to military intelligence. AI21 Labs, founded by former members of the IOF’s Unit 8200, confirmed involvement in developing a military AI tool targeting Palestinians. The firm leased office space on the fourth and fifth floors in late 2023.

Construction, financing, and strategic ties

The nearby Canarit Towers were built by Danya Cebus in a joint venture with Solel Boneh, later controlled by Los Angeles-based developer Netanel “Naty” Saidoff, a prominent figure in Israeli-American organizations. The towers, designed for the Air Force headquarters, incorporate blast mitigation systems to ensure maximum security.

Adjacent infrastructure also connects to the Israeli-American capital. Perimeter 81, now part of publicly traded Check Point Technologies, is located within meters of Site 81. US contracting records show that the M+W Group (Exyte) and Oxford Construction handled key construction and expansion phases of Site 81, with contracts spanning from 2011 to 2019.

Leaked emails between former NATO commander James Stavridis and former Israeli Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi further confirm Site 81’s role as a command and control hub. Stavridis wrote in 2015: “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, part of an archive curated by the US nonprofit Distributed Denial of Secrets, suggest high-level coordination involving retired Israeli generals and US contractors.

Censorship, restricted imagery

Satellite imagery of the Da Vinci Towers and surrounding areas remains heavily censored on platforms such as Google Maps and Yandex, reflecting ongoing restrictions on public access to sensitive Israeli military sites.

A France 24 report noted delayed Israeli media coverage of the Iranian strike, describing it as a likely instance of imposed censorship.

The placement of Site 81 in the heart of a dense civilian neighborhood, adjacent to playgrounds, commercial spaces, and residential towers, underscores the complex intersection of military secrecy and urban life.

Experts say it illustrates how "Israel" strategically embeds its intelligence infrastructure within cities while limiting independent verification, complicating assessments of risk during regional wars.