The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday said Israel had struck multiple Basij militia checkpoints across Tehran using drones, killing at least 10 security personnel.
The strikes marked the first reported drone attacks in the Iranian capital since the Middle East war began on February 28.
The development comes after reports that the Basij forces, a paramilitary branch of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), had set up checkpoints at key locations throughout the city.
“Following the identification of these deployments, the Air Force, guided by the Military Intelligence Directorate, targeted the checkpoints and the Basij forces stationed there for attack over the past day and night, leading to their elimination,” the IDF said in a post on X.
❌ نیروی هوایی ایست ها و نیروهای واحد بسیج را که اخیراً در تهران ایجاد شده بودند، هدف قرار داد
⭕️ ارتش اسرائیل در روزهای اخیر شناسایی کرد که نیروهای بسیج اقدام به برپایی ایستهای بازرسی در چندین نقطه از شهر تهران کردهاند.
⭕️ در پی شناسایی این استقرارها، نیروی هوایی و با هدایت… pic.twitter.com/IDdZfuy0oN
— ارتش دفاعی اسرائیل | IDF Farsi (@IDFFarsi) March 12, 2026
“These armed forces are part of the Iranian regime’s security apparatus and have for years been responsible for carrying out terror activities,” an IDF spokesperson said. “They lead the main repression operations against internal protests, using severe violence, widespread arrests, and force against civilian demonstrators.”
“The attacks carried out are part of the phase of deepening the strike against the nuclear layers and main infrastructures of the Iranian terrorist regime,” the IDF said.
The Israeli military added that it will continue targeting systems and personnel linked to the Iranian regime wherever they operate.
