false flag
n.— «The betting among spy buffs is that Asgari was recruited in what’s known as a “false flag” operation. His handlers may be Israelis posing as officers of another intelligence service, perhaps even during the debriefing. Such speculation was piqued two weeks ago when the German defense minister, Franz Josef Jung, was asked during a visit to Turkey whether Asgari was in Germany. “I cannot say anything on this issue,” he replied.» —“15 Britons In a Sea Of Intrigue” by David Ignatius Washington Post Mar. 29, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)