Senior Israeli security officials say Israel has been conducting an intensive air campaign in recent weeks against Iran’s Basij forces, aiming to weaken the regime’s internal repression apparatus and prepare the ground for a renewed wave of mass protests in major cities.
The Basij serves as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ primary internal security arm and is one of the regime’s key tools for maintaining order and suppressing dissent. Since the current conflict began, Basij units have worked alongside the IRGC to crush protests, control the population, and use force—including live fire, arrests, and torture—against demonstrators.
Since January, following mass killings of protesters in which an estimated 30,000 people were killed, suppression efforts have continued. Security sources say Basij and IRGC forces maintain a heavy presence in cities, operate checkpoints, and closely monitor the public to prevent renewed organization.
At the same time, Israel has intensified airstrikes on Basij infrastructure across Iran, targeting facilities, checkpoints, and senior commanders. This week, Basij commander Gholam Soleimani and his deputy were reportedly eliminated. The goal is to weaken the regime’s ability to control the population and disrupt its internal surveillance network.
