Arabic version: الضربات الإسرائيلية تستهدف نقاط تفتيش الباسيج في طهران
The Israeli military has been pursuing a new war tactic in targeting checkpoints set up in the Iranian capital by the paramilitary Basij force as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the United States launch more attacks. The heavily armed checkpoints, roadblocks and patrols have been ramping up in Tehran and across the country in the aftermath of thousands being killed during January’s nationwide protests, and particularly since the start of the ongoing war over two weeks ago.
According to Al Jazeera, drone strikes have been hitting the heavily armed checkpoints since Wednesday night, killing and wounding a number of Basij members. A funeral was held on Friday in the province of Semnan for Morteza Darbari, who was described by the IRGC-linked Tasnim news agency as the commander of a local Basij force based in a mosque in Tehran. He was killed while commanding an armed checkpoint in southeastern District 15.
The state-run Fars news agency said checkpoints have also been similarly targeted in multiple other districts of the sprawling city, and that state forces are responding through “new and creative plans” to adapt to the strikes, and by increasing their patrols. Intelligence ‘from Iranians’ According to unnamed sources cited by multiple Western news outlets, Israeli commanders have partly acted based on intelligence sent to them by Iranians who have been filming the roadblocks and sending messages through social media.
The Iranian authorities have reacted strongly to dissent, threatening severe repercussions for those who oppose the regime, including asset confiscation for both domestic and expatriate dissidents. This crackdown follows a pattern of suppression aimed at quelling protests and maintaining control during the ongoing conflict.
Both Israeli and Iranian officials have suggested that the current hostilities could persist for an extended period, with no immediate prospects for negotiations. The situation remains tense as military actions continue, and the potential for further violence looms over the region.
