Israel strikes Iranian internal security, Basij command centers in Tehran

2026-03-04 - 09:12

The Israeli military confirmed Wednesday that it conducted extensive airstrikes targeting Iran's internal security apparatus and Basij paramilitary forces in the capital Tehran. Warplanes dropped dozens of munitions on command centers used by these forces, according to an official military statement, marking another significant escalation in the ongoing campaign against the Islamic Republic. Targeting Regime Control Infrastructure The Basij, a volunteer-based paramilitary force established in 1979 and operating under Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, plays a critical role in internal security and maintaining regime control. The Israeli military claimed the struck facilities were "used by the Iranian regime to maintain control throughout Iran and maintain the regime's situational assessments." The strikes appear designed to degrade Tehran's ability to manage internal security amid the broader conflict. Expanding Target Set Beyond security forces, the airstrikes also hit the Iranian Ground Forces' Supply and Logistics Directorate, as well as missile launchers and associated systems. The widening scope of targets suggests the military campaign is systematically dismantling Iran's defensive and internal control capabilities. Since Saturday's initial US-Israeli strikes, the offensive has killed hundreds of people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior security officials. Regional Fallout Tehran has responded with waves of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, with Bahrain and Qatar reporting successful interceptions of numerous projectiles. The expanding conflict has drawn in multiple regional actors, disrupted global energy markets, and triggered mass evacuations of foreign nationals from the Gulf region.