U.S., Israel Target Iranian Forces in Airstrikes, Aiming to Rekindle Protests
TEHRAN, Iran – U.S. and Israeli forces are conducting airstrikes throughout Iran, specifically targeting members of the regime’s security apparatus involved in the suppression of anti-government protests earlier this year. The stated goal, according to U.S. and Israeli officials, is to create conditions favorable for a resurgence of demonstrations and potentially facilitate regime change.
The operation, dubbed “Epic Fury” by U.S. President Donald Trump, began Saturday with strikes that reportedly killed supreme leader Ali Khamenei and dozens of other top Iranian leaders. While the initial rhetoric from Washington suggested a direct aim of regime overthrow, officials have since clarified that the primary objectives are to dismantle Iran’s missile program, neutralize its navy, prevent the development of nuclear weapons, and halt support for regional proxy militias.
However, an Israeli official revealed that forces involved in the crackdown on protesters – including the Basij, a volunteer paramilitary group affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – are specifically being targeted. “When we said that we’re trying to create the conditions for regime change, these are the kinds of things that we’re referring to,” the official said.
The crackdown on protests earlier this year, which began in January, saw a significant suppression of dissent, leading to a decrease in public demonstrations. Trump has claimed 32,000 Iranians were killed by the regime during the protests. While this figure remains unverified, it underscores the severity of the government’s response.
The current strikes are intended to overcome the fear instilled by the crackdown and encourage Iranians to return to the streets. However, an Israeli official acknowledged that overcoming the regime’s control of force remains a major challenge and that internal dissent is crucial for any potential collapse of the government.
The U.S. has reportedly been considering support for Kurdish fighters in Iraq, but the White House denied arming them Wednesday, stating that discussions with Kurdish leaders centered on the American military base in the country. Some analysts have cautioned that supporting a Kurdish insurgency could hinder efforts to unify opposition to the Iranian regime.
The situation remains fluid, and the long-term impact of the strikes on the Iranian government and its people remains to be seen.
[Image of smoke rising over Tehran after a strike on March 3, 2026. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP)]
[Image from January 2026 showing bodies and mourners outside a morgue in Iran following a crackdown on protests. (UGC via AP, File)]
Source: The Times of Israel
