Israel has relied in part on intelligence provided by Iranian civilians to identify targets for airstrikes inside Iran.
A senior Israeli security official with the strategy told The Wall Street Journal that individuals inside Iran sent information about potential threats through Israeli social media accounts operating in Persian.
Israeli authorities reviewed and verified the tips before approving any military action, the official said, adding that civilian submissions do not directly trigger strikes.
If accurate, the use of crowdsourced intelligence would add another layer to Israel’s targeting process during the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Used in Tehran Attack
The outlet said that such intelligence contributed to recent operations that were carried out at night, particularly when Israeli-developed Hermes unmanned aerial systems targeted Basij militia checkpoints in Tehran.
Iranian state media also reported drone attacks on checkpoints in the capital the same evening, saying several security personnel were killed, including members of the paramilitary volunteer group.
The Basij operates under Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and makes up the core of internal security operations, including enforcing government control during protests and civil unrest.
Nuclear Site Hit
The update came as the Israel Defense Forces confirmed it had struck an Iranian facility allegedly used for nuclear weapons development.
Israeli officials said the site had been undergoing rehabilitation after it was first targeted during an October 2024 strike.
Sources indicate the facility is located near the village of Parchin, southeast of Tehran, where a US think tank claims the Islamic Republic has been conducting covert nuclear-related activities.
