Israel is relying on information from Iranians on the ground for strike targets - report
Security official says tips from civilians helped guide drone strike on Basij checkpoints in Tehran
Israel has relied in part on information provided by ordinary Iranians to identify some targets for strikes inside Iran during the current conflict, a senior Israeli security official told the Wall Street Journal. The official said civilians have sent potential targets to Israel through Persian-language social media accounts operated by the country.
According to the official, information sent by Iranians on the ground is reviewed and verified before being used operationally. The official said that if the information is confirmed as accurate, Israeli forces may act on it.
The approach was used Wednesday night when an Israeli Hermes unmanned aerial vehicle struck Basij checkpoints in Tehran, the official said. The Basij militia is part of Iran’s security apparatus.
Iranian state media also reported Wednesday evening that Israeli drones targeted checkpoints in Tehran. The reports said the strikes resulted in the deaths of several members of the Iranian security forces, including personnel from the Basij militia.
The senior Israeli security official told the outlet that civilians have transmitted potential target information via Israeli social media accounts in Persian. The information is then vetted by Israeli authorities before any action is taken.