IDF Drone Strikes Liquidate Tehran Checkpoints as Coalition Targets Basij Personnel Involved in Protester Crackdowns

Israeli drones hit Basij checkpoints in Tehran as the US and Israel target regime forces responsible for crackdowns on anti-government protesters.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 13, 2026, 12:29 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel.

Precision Strikes on Paramilitary Infrastructure

The Israel Defense Forces have confirmed a second consecutive night of targeted drone strikes within the Iranian capital, specifically aimed at the Basij paramilitary force. According to military reports, the Israeli Air Force successfully neutralized multiple checkpoints established by the Basij in strategic sectors of Tehran. This "wave of strikes" mirrors a similar operation conducted on Wednesday night, suggesting a systematic effort to degrade the regime's internal security apparatus during the ongoing regional war. The IDF maintains that these checkpoints were being used to restrict movement and maintain a climate of fear among the civilian population.

The Strategic Logic of Regime Degradation

The ongoing airstrikes throughout Iran are not merely focused on military hardware but are reportedly following a specific psychological and political mandate. Sources from both the United States and Israel have confirmed that the coalition is deliberately targeting the specific forces that led the violent crackdown on anti-government protesters earlier this year. By eliminating the personnel responsible for internal repression, the coalition hopes to lower the "hurdle" for domestic resistance. The objective is to create a security vacuum that would allow demonstrators to return to the streets with less risk of a lethal response from the state’s security organs.

Weakening the Basij Force Command

The Basij, a volunteer paramilitary organization under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has long served as the regime’s primary tool for domestic enforcement. The overnight strikes represent a direct assault on the "street-level" authority of the IRGC, which has been under immense pressure since the start of the conflict two weeks ago. By targeting checkpoint personnel, the IDF is effectively blinded the regime's situational awareness in the capital, making it increasingly difficult for the remnants of the leadership to coordinate a response to both external air strikes and potential internal dissent.