Israel has intensified its military operations inside Iran by targeting checkpoints operated by the paramilitary Basij in Tehran, marking a new phase in the escalating confrontation involving Iranian forces, Israeli strikes and growing regional instability.
According to Iranian media linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), drone strikes began hitting heavily armed Basij checkpoints from Wednesday night, reportedly killing and injuring several personnel deployed across key parts of the capital.
The targeted checkpoints are part of reinforced internal security measures introduced across Tehran and other cities following recent unrest and heightened military alert conditions. Security patrols and roadblocks have been expanded in sensitive districts, particularly in the wake of prolonged political tensions and fears of further internal disruption.
One of those reported killed was Morteza Darbari, identified by Tasnim News Agency as a local Basij commander attached to a mosque-based unit in Tehran. A funeral for Darbari was held Friday in Semnan Province after he was killed while overseeing an armed checkpoint in the southeastern District 15 area of Tehran.
State media also broadcast funeral scenes for another Basij member, Mohammad-Hossein Kouchaki, who was reportedly killed in a separate drone strike in northeastern Tehran.
According to reports, the strike occurred near an area previously affected by attacks on major fuel infrastructure, underscoring the widening strategic focus of recent Israeli operations.
Israeli military sources later confirmed responsibility for one of the drone strikes by releasing footage said to show the targeted checkpoint operation.
The latest strikes suggest an expansion of Israel’s operational targets beyond military installations to include internal security positions viewed as strategically significant within Tehran.
The developments come amid continued exchanges of military pressure between Iran, Israel and the United States, raising concerns over further escalation across the region.
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