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Israel targeted Iran's Evin prison and security agency command centers in Tehran on Monday, marking an expansion of strikes against Iranian domestic institutions as the conflict between the two nations entered its 11th day.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli military was "carrying out strikes of unprecedented force against regime targets and agencies of government repression in the heart of Tehran." The targets included Evin prison, which Katz described as holding "political prisoners and regime opponents," along with command centers of Iran's domestic Basij militia and the Revolutionary Guards.
The Israeli military confirmed it was striking command centers of security forces, including the Revolutionary Guards, describing these forces as responsible for "defending the homeland security, suppressing threats, and maintaining the regime's stability" on behalf of Iran's government.
The current military campaign began June 13 when Israel launched strikes against Iran's nuclear and missile facilities, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized as an "existential" threat to Israel. The scope of targets has since broadened to include state television and domestic security forces, prompting speculation about Israel's broader objectives regarding Iran's leadership under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
President Donald Trump appeared to suggest interest in changing Iran's government structure in a Sunday post on his Truth Social platform. "It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!" Trump wrote, despite administration officials previously stating that U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend did not aim for regime change.
Agence-France Presse (AFP) journalists reported hearing explosions in northern Tehran on Monday, while Iran's Red Crescent said a strike occurred near its building in that area. The Israeli military reported at least three waves of incoming Iranian missiles on Monday.
Evin prison, located in a northern district of Tehran, is a large, heavily fortified complex frequently used to detain foreign nationals and Iranians whose rights groups consider political prisoners. Iran is believed to hold approximately 20 European nationals, many in unpublicized cases that Western governments describe as part of a hostage-taking strategy to extract concessions. The facility has drawn criticism from activists over alleged human rights abuses.
Katz, considered a hardliner within Netanyahu's government, warned that "for every rocket fired at Israel's home front, the Iranian dictator will be severely punished, and the attacks will continue with full force."
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