Israel has initiated a new phase in its conflict with Iran, targeting checkpoints manned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) based on intelligence from informants on the ground, a source briefed on Israel's military strategy told Reuters The targeting of IRGC-secured checkpoints suggests an intensification of efforts to weaken Iran's elite forces and marks a tactical expansion of the conflict These specific strikes on internal security posts are occurring as Israel and the United States also carry out a joint aerial bombardment campaign in the region
This new Israel military strategy appears to broaden the scope of its operations beyond a primary focus on military and nuclear infrastructure to now include the street-level apparatus of Iran's internal state security Recently, the Israeli military confirmed it had conducted Basij strikes, hitting checkpoints in Tehran operated by the paramilitary volunteer force, which is controlled by the IRGC and often used to suppress domestic dissent The use of Iranian informants to enable precision strikes on IRGC checkpoints highlights a significant intelligence-gathering capability within Iran and a new dimension in the ongoing Israel Iran conflict
This strategy aligns with Israel's stated war objectives: destroying Iran's military and nuclear capabilities and 'creating the conditions' for the Iranian public to overthrow their government However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly acknowledged that regime change is an 'uncertain prospect' Despite the intensified military pressure, there has been no sign of organised dissent emerging in Iran, nor any indication of the country's leadership relinquishing power
Mohsin Rana
