June 18, 2026

03b Israel

Joe Kent suggests Israel fed US false intel to lure it into striking Iran– www.washingtonexaminer.com

pgnewser March 19, 2026 0

Blurb:

Joe Kent, former director of President Donald Trump’s National Counterterrorism Center, said Wednesday that information on Iran originating from Israeli officials and amplified through U.S. media and policy circles played a central role in shaping the president’s decision to carry out military action.

Kent, speaking on the Tucker Carlson Show following his resignation on Tuesday, argued that there was no U.S. intelligence showing Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States and suggested U.S. action was influenced by “an ecosystem of information” tied to Israeli interests and bogus intelligence.

US National Counterterrorism Director Joe Kent Resigns: ‘I Cannot In Good Conscience Support The Ongoing War…Iran Posed No Imminent Threat’– wltreport.com

pgnewser March 18, 2026 0

Blurb:

This is quite shocking.

Joe Kent, the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, has announced his resignation effective immediately.

Kent, in a lengthy resignation post on X, shared that he cannot, in good conscience, support the war in Iran.

The former CIA paramilitary officer added that Iran never posed an imminent threat to the United States.

AP broke the story:

Joe Kent, Director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, has resigned from the Trump administration.

Kent said he “cannot in good conscience” back Trump’s war in Iran.

Iran “posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,” Kent posted on social media Tuesday.

Kent is a former political candidate with connections to right-wing extremists who was confirmed to his post last July on a 52-44 vote.

Take a look:

Full resignation letter:

President Trump,

After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today.

I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.

I support the values and the foreign policies that you campaigned on in 2016, 2020, 2024, which you enacted in your first term. Until June of 2025, you understood that the wars in the Middle East were a trap that robbed America of the precious lives of our patriots and depleted the wealth and prosperity of our nation.

In your first administration, you understood better than any modern President how to decisively apply military power without getting us drawn into never-ending wars. You demonstrated this by killing Qasam Solamani and by defeating ISIS.

Early in this administration, high-ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media deployed a misinformation campaign that wholly undermined your America First platform and sowed pro-war sentiments to encourage a war with Iran. This echo chamber was used to deceive you into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States, and that should you strike now, there was a clear path to a swift victory. This was a lie and is the same tactic the Israelis used to draw us into the disastrous Iraq war that cost our nation the lives of thousands of our best men and women. We cannot make this mistake again.

As a veteran who deployed to combat 11 times and as a Gold Star husband who lost my beloved wife Shannon in a war manufactured by Israel, I cannot support sending the next generation off to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people nor justifies the cost of American lives.

I pray that you will reflect upon what we are doing in Iran, and who we are doing it for. The time for bold action is now. You can reverse course and chart a new path for our nation, or you can allow us to slip further toward decline and chaos. You hold the cards.

It was an honor to serve in your administration and to serve our great nation.

2 Top Iranian Leaders Eliminated, Israel Says– www.dailysignal.com

pgnewser March 18, 2026 0

Blurb:

Two top Iranian leaders have been killed as the United States and Israel continue their joint operation against the Iranian regime.

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and Gholamreza Soleimani, the commander of the Basij Force, have been eliminated, the Israeli Defense Forces announced Tuesday.

“Under Soleimani, the Basij unit led the main repression operations in Iran, employing severe violence, widespread arrests, and the use of force against civilian demonstrators,” according to the IDF.

Larijani was closely associated with the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and was one of the nation’s top security officials. The former supreme leader tasked Larijani and several other officials with ensuring the regime would survive if he were killed, The New York Times reports.

“Throughout the years, Larijani was considered one of the most veteran and senior figures within the Iranian regime leadership,” according to the IDF.

New Poll Levels That Dem/Media Narrative About Operation Epic Fury – RedState– redstate.com

pgnewser March 18, 2026 0

Blurb:

Democrats and liberal media have been all in trying to disparage Operation Epic Fury against Iran.

If you listened to them, you would think we were being destroyed and were losing, despite the unparalleled success of the military operation.

It’s legitimate to ask questions. You can reasonably have concerns or maybe be against the actions now. What isn’t reasonable is pushing out false stories to undermine our effort and essentially help provide propaganda that could benefit Iran.

Then the public has to wade through that and evaluate what they think, rather than just assessing the facts. Which, of course, is why Democrats/liberal media are doing that.

But a new poll is putting paid to the Democratic narrative that people don’t support the effort.The McLaughlin survey of likely voters found strong support.

When voters were asked whether they approved of President Trump using the U.S. military to eliminate Iran’s nuclear missile program and its support for terrorism — given Iran’s refusal to negotiate an end to its nuclear weapons and missile development — 51% approved, while 41% disapproved.

Two key figures of Iranian leadership killed: Who’s next? – The Debate– www.france24.com

pgnewser March 18, 2026 0

Blurb:

 

Ali Larijani was the head of Iran’s Security Council and a key voice in the ear of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Gholamreza Soleimani was the head of the Basij militia. Both were pillars of Iran’s security apparatus. If they have indeed been taken out, the question is who replaces them, and will they take Iran down an even more hardline path?

The death of Iran‘s key figure Ali Larijani raises more questions than answers.

First, Israel says it has killed him in an air strike, but Tehran has yet to confirm or deny.

While Israel and the United States rejoice and call on the Iranian people to rise up and overthrow what is left of their Islamic leadership, the reality on the ground is less certain. The systematic killing of the leaders of Iran since February 28 has created a vacuum in Tehran.

The fear among analysts is that the space will be filled by regime insiders who will be hardened and more radical.

Larijani was the lead negotiator at the now aborted talks to find a peaceful way forward.

Death of Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani tests regime resilience, risks hardline shift– www.channelnewsasia.com

pgnewser March 18, 2026 0

Blurb:

Dr Dorsey pointed out that there may also be a hardening of the lines on both sides of the war following the security chief’s death.

“You could see Israel, the United States, seeing this as a major body blow that sets the stage for trying to finish Iran off,” he said.

Already, Iran has retaliated for the assassination of its security chief, targeting Tel Aviv with missiles carrying cluster warheads, which are difficult to intercept.

Larijani’s death is also likely to lend more power to the more radical leaders and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, said Dr Mehran Kamrava, professor of government at Georgetown University Qatar.

“As an insider with deep connections within the Islamic Republic’s deep state and with impeccable revolutionary credentials, he would have been indispensable to any decision to end the current war,” Dr Kamrava told CNA.

“His death is likely to strengthen the hands of President Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Araghchi on the one hand, and the more radical, less compromising commanders of the Revolutionary Guards on the other.”

Starmer says ‘we can’t lose focus’ on Ukraine amid Iran war during Zelenskyy visit– www.euronews.com

pgnewser March 18, 2026 0

Blurb:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Tuesday for talks on peace and sanctions on Russia.

The meeting comes at a time when the Iran war has revived Russia’s ailing economy through increased oil revenue, robbed US-brokered talks to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine of momentum and could soon limit Kyiv’s access to vital Western air defence systems that are needed in the Middle East.

“We can’t lose focus on what’s going on in Ukraine and the need for our support,” Starmer said alongside Zelenskyy for talks at 10 Downing Street, which NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also attended.

“Putin can’t be the one who benefits from the conflict in Iran, whether that’s oil prices or the dropping of sanctions,” Starmer said. “It is really important we keep our resolve in relation to supporting Ukraine, doing everything we can to weaken the hand of Putin.”

U.S. Embassy Targeted In Major Drone, Rocket Attack– trendingpoliticsnews.com

pgnewser March 18, 2026 0

Blurb:

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad came under a heavy barrage of rockets and drones early Tuesday in what Iraqi security sources described as one of the most intense attacks on the capital since the war erupted.

Witnesses said two drones were shot down by the embassy’s C-RAM defense system, while a third struck a building inside the embassy compound, sparking a fire and sending thick smoke into the sky.

Video seen by CNN showed air defenses intercepting what appeared to be a drone over Baghdad. The clip captured the moment it was hit, followed by a blast about 1,000 meters from the embassy compound.

“There it is, there it is,” a voice is heard saying in the video as the drone was intercepted.

Internet Erupts As Possibly Dead New Supreme Leader of Iran Was Maybe LGBTQ – RedState– redstate.com

pgnewser March 18, 2026 0

Blurb:

The irony is thicker than the haze described by the band Deep Purple in their classic hard-rocking tune, Smoke on the Water. The new Supreme leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei (son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) — who nobody is sure is even alive or dead — may be (have been?) gay.

This, in one of the most anti-LGBTQ regimes in the world — one that is reportedly prone to hanging homosexuals in the public square. Not surprisingly, the internet went wild with memes and jokes.

Although the conflict with Iran is anything but funny, sometimes humor best exposes the absurdity of the backward regime and its murderous leaders (the ones who are still left breathing, anyway).

Iran Missile Strike Hit Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem– gellerreport.com

pgnewser March 18, 2026 0

Blurb:

A near disaster took place in Israel. Iran launched missiles into the Old City of Jerusalem. The missiles were intercepted. However, the debris landed just a few feet away from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. One of the most sacred sites in Christianity, believed to be the place of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.

Just a reminder, the only reason Christian holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem remain standing, is because it is part of Israel. If the Palestinians controlled the Old City of Jerusalem’s Christian Quarter, all traces of Christianity would be attacked and destroyed. Exactly what the Palestinians have tragically done to the once flourishing Christian community in Bethlehem.

What Happens When There’s Not Enough Regime Left to Change? – PJ Media– pjmedia.com

pgnewser March 18, 2026 0

Blurb:

Ali Larijani, the closest thing Iran’s Islamic Republic currently has (er, had) to a political leader, is believed dead following an Israeli airstrike Tuesday. And that’s just the start of today’s good news concerning Operation Epic Fury/Roaring Lion.

It seems like only yesterday [It was only yesterday, Steve —Editor] that we discussed how Iran’s regime losses — from the topmost echelons all the way down to Basij street-thug enforcers — make the country increasingly ripe for regime change.

Well, yesterday’s news of limited drone strikes on individual Basij thugs pales in comparison to today’s news from Mossad Commentary [unofficial]: “Overnight strikes reportedly killed ~300 Basij commanders and field officials, targeting key command, logistics, and operational centers across Tehran.”

Facilities hit include “vehicle repair units, Mohammad Rasoulollah Corps HQ, Imam Hadi command center, and Imam Ali battalions.” The result is that “the Basij’s capability to mobilize against protests and maintain internal control” is severely degraded.

It’s this big a deal:

‘I Hope This Wakes People Up’: Shawn Ryan Defends Trump Official Who Quit Over Iran War– dailycaller.com

pgnewser March 18, 2026 0

Blurb:

Podcaster Shawn Ryan said Tuesday he hoped the resignation of National Counter-Terrorism Center (NCTC) Director Joe Kent “wakes people up” about the war with Iran.

Kent announced his resignation in a Tuesday post on X that included an image of his letter to President Donald Trump, claiming that Iran did not pose an “imminent threat” to the United States. Ryan described Kent’s resignation as “unfortunate” in a Tuesday post. (RELATED: Pentagon Confirms Six Servicemembers Dead In Tanker Crash)

“Sometimes the most impactful statement you can make is a strong resignation. It’s unfortunate it’s come down to this. God’s speed @joekent16jan19, I hope this wakes some people up,” Ryan, a former Navy SEAL, posted.

“And for everyone else who’s just falling in line to keep your position of power, take note,” Ryan added in a second post.

Anchored Oil Tanker Hit by Strike as Iran Begins Targeting Some of World’s Most Critical Oil Infrastructure– www.westernjournal.com

pgnewser March 18, 2026 0

Blurb:

Iran launched vicious attacks Tuesday on oil-producing Arab neighbors, hoping to drive up oil prices to outlast the United States and Israel.

An anchored tanker was struck off the coast of the United Arab Emirates just south of the Strait of Hormuz, according to The New York Times. The tanker sustained minor damage.

The port of Fujairah is strategically important because it is the terminus of a pipeline that can move oil to tankers from inland wells without passing through the strait, which Iran has closed to shipping.

At least 17 ships have been attacked in or near the strait since the U.S. and Israel began fighting Iran in late February.

The UAE was also attacked Tuesday by Iranian missiles and drones. The nation’s defense ministry said the attacks were being repelled.

Iran also launched drones at the UAE’s Shah gas field. Operations were later suspended, according to CNBC.

Israel kills 2 senior Iran leaders as allies reject Trump’s call for Strait of Hormuz help– www.cbsnews.com

pgnewser March 18, 2026 0

Blurb:

The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement Tuesday that the commander of Iran’s feared Basij paramilitary force was among the senior leaders killed in overnight strikes in Tehran, and the Israeli defense minister Israel Katz later confirmed that Ali Larijani, the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was also “eliminated.”

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have instructed the IDF to c

What Iran Attacks On UAE Reveals About The Drone Swarm Campaign– www.ndtv.com

pgnewser March 18, 2026 0

Blurb:

The recent Iranian strike campaign against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has largely been viewed through images of drones striking skyscrapers and residential buildings. But it can also be understood through the dataset emerging from daily interception reports. Beginning on February 28, Iranian forces have launched nearly 1,800 drones and missiles towards the UAE, according to compiled data and interception timelines based on the daily releases shared by the UAE’s Ministry of Defence.

While interception rates remained high and protected key locations, a closer examination of the data reveals a structured operational campaign. The pattern suggests that Iran’s objective was not necessarily infrastructure destruction but imposing economic and operational strain on advanced air-defence networks.

Oil tankers are ‘starting to dribble through ‘Strait of Hormuz,’ U.S. says – National– globalnews.ca

pgnewser March 18, 2026 0

Blurb:

Oil tankers are crossing the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s actions to choke traffic through the shipping route have not hurt the U.S. economy, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett told CNBC on Tuesday, reiterating the Trump administration’s position that the war should be over in weeks, not months.

“Already you’re seeing tankers are starting to dribble through the straits, and I think it’s a sign of how little Iran has left,” he said.

“We’re very optimistic that this is going to be over in the short run, and then there will be price repercussions when it is over for a few weeks, as the ships make it to the refineries.”

Treasury Department Shutting Down Sham Charities That Funnel Money to Hamas › American Greatness– amgreatness.com

pgnewser March 16, 2026 0

Blurb:

The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced Thursday that it has determined four sham charities are directly bankrolling Hamas’s military wing and enabling its operations.

According to the Treasury Department, Hamas is hiding its revenue-generating activities behind civilian organizations, under the guise of humanitarian work, to support the group’s terrorist activities.

Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent was quoted in a press release yesterday, saying,  “Hamas continues to finance its military wing by exploiting sham charities to support terrorist operations. The Treasury Department will not allow Hamas to misuse the charitable sector for its violent aims, and we will continue to target these networks wherever they operate.”

Four separate charities are accused of channeling cash to the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, which are suspected of carrying out some of the group’s most heinous terrorist activities.

Trump Called on US Allies to Help Reopen Strait of Hormuz. This Is How They Responded.– townhall.com

pgnewser March 16, 2026 0

Blurb:

President Donald Trump is pressing U.S. allies to send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian forces shut down large swaths of commercial traffic through the region.

In a Saturday post on Truth Social, the president noted that countries “who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait” would be sending ships to the area “to keep the Strait open and safe.”

He explained that while the U.S. has “already destroyed 100% of Iran’s Military capability,” it is “easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close range missile somewhere along, or in, this Waterway.”

He said he hoped China, France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and others would also lend their naval support to the effort to reopen the Hormuz Strait.

Israel says it has plans for at least three weeks of war as airstrikes pound Iran– www.channelnewsasia.com

pgnewser March 16, 2026 0

Blurb:

OIL SLIPS ON BESSENT SHIPPING COMMENTS

Despite the turbulence, oil prices, which had been above US$100 a barrel, fell sharply and stocks rallied after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC the US was “fine” to let some Iranian fuel vessels sail through the strait, and believed Indian and Chinese tankers had also passed through.

Ship-tracking data showed a Pakistan-bound oil tanker had passed through the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, indicating that some countries are able to negotiate safe passage for their vessels.

On Sunday, Trump had demanded that countries relying heavily on oil from the Gulf should help protect the strait, and said he hoped China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain and others would participate.

However, many – including Germany, Italy, Greece, Japan and Australia – said they would not send warships.

Trump Vows to Secure Strait of Hormuz as Warships Deploy, Coalition Grows– gellerreport.com

pgnewser March 16, 2026 0

Blurb:

President Trump put fire under the broader community of concerned nations: the Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT! The U.S. will also coordinate with those Countries so that everything goes quickly, smoothly, and well. This should have always been a team effort, and now it will be (Truth).

That message continued through the weekend. New York Sun: President Trump pledged Saturday to quickly reopen the Strait of Hormuz with help from a multinational naval coalition, even while claiming to have “destroyed 100%” of Iran’s military capability in a two-week campaign that has disrupted global oil supplies and raised fears of a broader regional confrontation. “Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. He called on China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom to contribute vessels, saying those nations have been harmed by what he described as “this artificial constraint” (New York Sun).

Trump Presses Allies and China to Secure the Strait of Hormuz – PJ Media– pjmedia.com

pgnewser March 16, 2026 0

Blurb:

President Donald Trump wants the world to act quickly to stop Iran from threatening shipping in the Straits of Hormuz. Iran has used mines, drones, and naval harassment to disrupt traffic through the narrow channel between the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. About one-fifth of global oil shipments travel through that route, and a shutdown would send fuel costs climbing across the world within days. Trump’s message to allies and rivals alike remains simple: help reopen the waterway and keep global commerce moving.

Trump already ordered American forces to strike all remaining Iranian maritime assets and energy facilities tied to the effort to block shipping. U.S. forces destroyed over 30 Iranian mine-laying vessels and carried out strikes against an oil hub on Kharg Island. U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth supports the campaign and has kept naval forces in the region on alert.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded with warnings that Iran would increase retaliation if attacks continue. Trump still calls on allied navies to join the effort and escort tankers through the strait.

Islamists Attack American Synagogue, University on Same Day

pgnewser March 13, 2026 0

On Thursday, March 12, 2026, two separate Islamists attempted to murder Americans, with one succeeding and the other being stopped before he could do further harm. Islamist Lebanese “immigrant” Ayman Mohammad Ghazali attempted to murder Jews at a Michigan synagogue. He was killed by security after driving his car into the synagogue.

Islamist Mohamed Jalloh was successful in his attack on Old Dominion University. He killed one and injured another before ROTC members stopped him and stabbed him to death. He killed one man, Lt. Colonel Brandon Shah. Had the ROTC members not stopped him, the death toll would have been much higher. The same goes for the synagogue attack; had security not stopped the Islamist, there would be many dead, including children who were present at the time of the attack.

Blurb:

Michigan Synagogue Attacker a Lebanese National – breitbart.com

The West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, Temple Israel attacker is identified as a Lebanese national, according to reporting by FOX News’s Bill Melugin.

Breitbart News reported that the attacker drove into the Temple Israel building Thursday and was engaged by security and killed. The attacker’s vehicle was registered to a Dearborn, Michigan, resident from Lebanon.

Melugin is now reporting that “DHS confirms to FOX News that the Michigan synagogue attacker has been ID’d as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a Lebanese national who first entered the U.S. in 2011 on an IR1 immigrant visa as the spouse of a U.S. citizen.”

He noted that Ghazali “was naturalized into a U.S. citizen in 2016 during the Obama administration.”

There is a school at Temple Israel and no children or staff were harmed in the attack.

Blurb

ROTC students subdued and killed Old Dominion University gunman, officials say – ABC News

When a gunman opened fire at Virginia’s Old Dominion University, on Thursday, killing an instructor and injuring two other people, Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) students stepped in to subdue and kill the suspect, officials said.

The suspect, identified as Mohamed Jalloh, a former Army National Guardsman who was convicted of giving material support to ISIS, allegedly was trying to commit a terrorist attack, FBI Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans told reporters.

The gunman opened fire in Constant Hall, an academic building, around 10:43 a.m. and was found dead minutes after officers arrived, Old Dominion University Police Chief Garrett Shelton said during a press briefing.

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger identified the person who was killed as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah.

Israel Responds With Massive Overnight Strikes as Hezbollah Escalates Drone, Missile Attacks– legalinsurrection.com

pgnewser March 12, 2026 0

Blurb:

 

Israel launched waves of overnight airstrikes on Hezbollah targets after the Iranian-backed terrorist group fired hundreds of drones and rockets at towns and cities in northern Israel, declaring war on the “enemies of Islam.”

On Wednesday evening, the Lebanon-based Shia-jihadist group announced the launch of Operation “Eaten Straw,” invoking Quranic verses referring to the supposed destruction of a Christian-Ethiopian army at the hands of Arabs in the sixth century.

Israel’s Iron Dome Swarmed By Hundreds of Hezb’Allah Missiles, Trump Gives Israel Green Light to Do What’s Necessary to Defeat Hezbollah– gellerreport.com

pgnewser March 12, 2026 0

Blurb:

Americans have the ability to watch from afar. Israelis are “under it”—defending themselves from an onslaught. Ward Clark of RedState: The Israel Defense Forces has announced what it is describing as a “large-scale wave” of missile strikes on Hezbollah in Beirut, after the terror group’s “deliberate decision” to act as a proxy for Iran: The IDF has begun a large-scale wave of strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in the Dahieh area, Beirut. Interception efforts against Hezbollah projectiles are ongoing. The IDF is operating with determination against the Hezbollah terrorist organization following its deliberate decision to attack Israel on behalf of the Iranian regime.”

US and Israel Strike ‘Regime’s Protest-Crushing Machine’– gellerreport.com

pgnewser March 12, 2026 0

Blurb:

 

US and Israel Strike Basij Checkpoints in Iran; Hitting ‘the regime’s protest-crushing machine’

The Basij are the paramilitary forces (often voluntary) that serve to enforce Sharia law and civil compliance on the streets. They are a key impediment to protestors coming outside and taking their country back. Iranian activist Nariman Gharib: The IDF and US forces delivered precision strikes, surgically dismantling Basij checkpoints in the heart of Tehran’s streets, the very thugs who beat, arrest, and shoot protesters every single night. No civilian casualties. Just clean, targeted operations. And the people? They’re not hiding. They’re back on the rooftops, voices shaking the city: “Marg bar Basij!” (Death to Basij!) “Marg bar dictator!” (Death to the dictator!) The regime’s own enforcers are being eliminated while the people cheer from the rooftops. The fear is gone. (Gharib).

Similar reports coming out of the west, in the province of Ilam: The IDF says it destroyed major bases of Iran’s internal security forces and the Basij militia in Ilam Province. These are the same forces used by the regime to crush protests and brutalize Iranian civilians. In simple terms: Israel hit the regime’s protest-crushing machine (Mossad).