Israeli Strikes Target Iranian Security Forces as Protests and Conflict Continue

Demonstrators carry a pre-1979 Iranian flag during a march in support of the Iranian people in Washington, D.C., on February 14, 2026, following a deadly crackdown on protests. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli military operations have struck infrastructure and personnel linked to Iran's security apparatus, including forces involved in a January 2026 crackdown on protests that Iranian officials and human rights groups estimate killed between 3,000 and 6,000 people.

By Eli Lake

March 18, 2026 — International

Eli Lake covers foreign affairs and national security. He hosts the podcast *Breaking History*.

One scenario circulating among analysts envisions large-scale protests in Tehran approaching the Majles, Iran's parliament, with Israeli-operated drones providing overhead surveillance or strikes against security checkpoints. Pro-regime forces' positions, previously used in protest suppressions, have been damaged in recent operations.

Meir Ben-Shabbat, Israel's national security adviser from 2017 to 2021, described to The Free Press a strategy of weakening the Iranian regime's command-and-control systems, repressive mechanisms, legitimacy, proxies, and economy to create conditions that could enable internal opposition to act. "The outcome cannot be guaranteed," Ben-Shabbat said, "but without these prior steps, there is no chance of it happening."

These operations occur amid a conflict between Israel, the United States, and Iran that entered its fourth week as of March 18, 2026. Israeli actions have included airstrikes on Iranian military-related infrastructure, following Iran's missile and drone attacks on Israel in response to prior escalations.

The background traces to earlier Israeli intelligence efforts. Meir Dagan, Mossad director until 2011, advocated support for Iran's opposition as aligning with Western interests. In 2018, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began releasing videos subtitled in Persian addressed to Iranians.

Israeli intelligence has conducted operations inside Iran targeting nuclear facilities, support for proxy groups, and other infrastructure. Reports indicate hacks on systems including traffic cameras and wireless networks. On March 2026, Israeli jets struck a data center for Bank Sepah, which handles payments for Iran's military and Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). No casualties were reported from that specific strike, according to available accounts.

Videos from Tehran have shown small armed drones striking members of the Basij militia, which helped enforce checkpoints during the January 2026 protests. The Iranian Health Ministry and Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported 3,000 to 6,000 deaths during that crackdown, primarily protesters.

Joel Rayburn, a special envoy for Syria in the first Trump administration, told The Free Press that these drone strikes demonstrate Israel's ability to target internal security forces involved in the crackdown, including infrastructure and leadership. "If the Israelis can expand that capability," Rayburn said, "that may be a game changer."

Israeli openness about these efforts has increased. Mossad launched a Persian-language account on X (formerly Twitter) after a 12-day war in June 2025, encouraging Iranians to contact the agency via VPNs. The Wall Street Journal reported that some Iranians have shared locations of Basij checkpoints or commanders with Israeli forces. On March 13, 2026, Mossad's account warned Iranians to avoid Basij gatherings, calling them "potential targets."

A recently retired senior Israeli military official told The Free Press that these messages aim to counter regime warnings against protests by signaling the removal of repressive forces.

Overall, U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran since February 2026 have resulted in 1,444 deaths according to the Iranian Health Ministry, with HRANA estimating up to 3,134, including civilians. Specific strikes like those on Bank Sepah and the South Pars gas field on March 16 reported no direct casualties but prompted mixed reactions among Iranian opposition figures.

Some Iranian opposition members view the strikes as disrupting regime assets. Others, including Majid Zamani, executive director of the Iran Freedom Congress, criticized the South Pars attack. "This is an aggression against Iran and not the Islamic Republic," Zamani told The Free Press, expressing concerns over potential civilian impacts like gas and electricity shortages and fears of regime retaliation against protesters.

Foreign involvement in internal dissent has historical precedents. French officer Marquis de Lafayette assisted American revolutionaries in the 1770s. During the Cold War, the CIA supplied printing presses and copiers to Eastern European dissidents.

Mehrdad Marty Youssefiani, an Iranian-American consultant focused on regime change, told The Free Press that Israeli aerial operations, combined with AI and technology, could support protests. He cited historical Persian-Jewish ties dating to Cyrus the Great, who permitted Jews to rebuild the Jerusalem Temple around 538 BCE, noting Jewish communities in Persia predated Islam.

Youssefiani co-founded the Iran Freedom Congress, aiming to unite external and internal opponents, including Kurdish parties, Baloch, Ahwazi Arabs, monarchists favoring Reza Pahlavi—the exiled son of the last shah—and republicans opposing monarchy restoration. The group planned a late-March conference to outline principles.

Zamani, a cyber specialist, expressed skepticism about relying on external strikes for regime change. "This is reckless to go and bomb a country and wish people would go out and you support them," he said, highlighting risks of regime revenge.

Debates within the Iran Freedom Congress include Pahlavi's role. Youssefiani supports including him for his recognition inside Iran, while others hesitate. Pahlavi has faced criticism for alienating minorities but recently expanded outreach, announcing Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi would lead a justice council for his proposed transitional government.

Pahlavi has not gained favor with President Donald Trump's team. A former administration official advising on Iran said Pahlavi failed to convince special envoy Steve Witkoff of his leadership viability post-regime. Israel, however, views him positively given its operations against protest-suppressing forces.

Ben-Shabbat described Pahlavi as "an important voice in energizing opposition" but said leadership choice belongs to Iranians.

Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies' Iran program, told The Free Press that Pahlavi is seen by many Iranians as an alternative to the current regime's ideology. His 2023 visit to Israel, Taleblu said, broke a taboo in opposition circles, framing politics as a referendum on the 1979 revolution.

Iran has seen protests since 1999 student uprisings at Tehran University, the 2009 election disputes, and recurring demonstrations since 2017, often suppressed by Basij and IRGC forces. No independently verified evidence confirms direct Mossad funding, training, or operational support for these protests beyond public messaging and reported limited intelligence sharing with Kurdish groups during the 2026 conflict.

Israeli operations have included reported intelligence from Iranian Kurds, but claims of broader covert aid to opposition groups remain unverified by independent sources. Public Mossad communications represent confirmed psyops efforts.

The conflict's trajectory, including potential for renewed protests, remains uncertain. Iranian opposition figures express varied views on external military actions: support for targeting regime security, concerns over civilian effects, and debates on leadership figures like Pahlavi.

As strikes continue, the Iranian government has issued warnings against collaboration with Israel, while opposition networks deliberate coalitions. Historical uprisings provide context, but outcomes depend on internal dynamics and conflict developments.

Related Reading:

How Israel Targets Members of the Iranian Regime

Israel Strikes Key Iranian Infrastructure

*This article draws on interviews with former officials, opposition figures, and public reports. Casualty figures are per Iranian Health Ministry (1,444 deaths) and HRANA (up to 3,134, including 3,000-6,000 from January crackdown). No casualties reported from Bank Sepah or South Pars strikes. Mossad actions limited to verified public efforts and intelligence operations per available sources.*

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