Tehran Rocked by Drone Strikes on Basij Checkpoints as US-Iran Tensions Flare
Drone attacks have targeted the paramilitary Basij's heavily armed checkpoints in Tehran, according to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as the US and Iran continue to exchange fire and heated rhetoric.
In a significant escalation of the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reported that drone strikes have hit the heavily armed checkpoints of the paramilitary Basij force in Tehran, the capital city of Iran. This comes as the two nations continue to trade fire and engage in a war of words.
The Basij, a volunteer paramilitary force that answers to the IRGC, plays a key role in maintaining the Iranian government's grip on power. Their checkpoints are ubiquitous in Tehran and across the country, and they are known for their aggressive and often violent tactics in suppressing dissent.
{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}The IRGC, in a statement, confirmed the drone strikes on the Basij checkpoints, but provided few additional details. It is not immediately clear who was behind the attacks or what the specific targets were. However, the strikes come amid a broader escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States, which has ramped up its military posture in the region in recent months.
The US and Iran have been engaged in a tit-for-tat exchange of attacks and rhetoric in recent weeks. In late November, Iran launched a barrage of missile strikes on what it claimed were bases used by Israeli intelligence services in northern Iraq. The US responded with airstrikes on facilities used by Iran-backed militias in Syria.
{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}The latest drone strikes on the Basij checkpoints in Tehran represent a significant escalation, as they targeted the heart of the Iranian regime's domestic security apparatus. The Basij are known for their brutal crackdown on anti-government protests, and their checkpoints have become a symbol of the government's repressive control over the population.
The ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, which have been simmering since the Trump administration's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, have raised concerns about the potential for further conflict in the region. Both sides have been engaging in increasingly aggressive posturing, and the risk of miscalculation or unintended escalation remains high.
{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}As the situation continues to unfold, the international community will be closely watching to see how the US and Iran respond to this latest development. The potential for further escalation and the risk of a broader conflict in the region remain significant concerns.
Source: Al Jazeera
