Iran: IRGC Commanders Assassinated; U.S., Israeli Help Expected UPDATED
Friday we reported the assassination of IRCG commander Mahmoud Haqiqat in Iranshahr.
Now, in a Livestream, TousiTV is reporting the assassination of other IRCG officials:
“Reza Kasab, head of a ballistic missile unit in Kashan, this was a professional hit. He was assassinated by a suicide drone attack.”
“There are a lot of operatives on the ground carrying out these attacks.”
“Multiple generals have been killed in Iran.”
He notes that Israel’s strikes last year killed multiple senior IRGC officials, so now the replacement leaders are being killed.
“Islamic State TV in Iran have confirmed that IRCG have lost hundreds of their personnel in leadership.” My suspicion is that the IRCG have lost hundreds, but not all in leadership.
Reports of Mossad agents on the ground helping the revolution. This is the sort of thing that both sides in the conflict would say to help shore up resolve in their respective bases, but the drone attack suggests it’s true. (Could also be IDF special forces, CIA, or U.S. special forces.)
But it carries more weight when it comes from Mossad’s official Farsi Twitter account. “Go out together into the streets. The time has come. We are with you. Not only from a distance and verbally. We are with you in the field.”
“There is someone professional carrying out these attacks against the Islamic occupation in Iran.”
“Reza Pahlavi has called for a general strike.” But everybody’s already on strike.
Reports of atrocities committed by the regime against the people (of course). “Over 2,000 people have been killed.”
Israel’s military is on full alert, and Iran is threatening to launch “over 500” missiles at them.
Caveats: Tousi TV is run by Mahyar Tousi, a fierce critic of Iran’s Islamist regime, so he’s more cheerleader for the revolution than a neutral observer. So am I, but I always council caution on believing good news you want to believe. But several elements of what Tousi has stated here appear to check out.
Those are just a few early highlights of a livestream that’s still ongoing.
There are already rumors circulating that the regime is flying gold to Russia in advance of Ali Khamenei bugging out to Moscow.
Things in Iran moving very fast indeed.
Update: Tousi has a livestream with the teaser “Trump is sending help” scheduled for 2:45 PM…
Update 2:
From that Livestream: “President Trump confirms he will be sending help to the Iranian people.”
Iranian people continue to occupy the streets of Tehran in defiance of the regime’s armed threats.
“There is a President in the White House who supports them.”
“They’re not going back to work. There’s no work. There’s no money. There’s no light. There’s no water.”
IDF hitting Hezbollah in Lebanon.
U.S.: “Multiple military options.” Including cybersupport.
Heh: “Lindsey Graham doing Lindsey Graham things.”
“Reza Pahlavi is coming.”
Protesters are disarming regime forces on the street.
Now the regime is trying to jam Starlink.
U.S. forces have been hitting Islamic State targets in Syria. (Not sure how relevant this is to Iran. The Islamic State considers shiia heretical so, unlike Hamas or Hezbollah, are unlikely to help the regime.)
Reports of regime forces seizing satellite dishes.
“U.S. forces have been hitting Islamic State targets in Syria. (Not sure how relevant this is to Iran. the Islamic State considers shiia heretical so, unlike Hamas or Hezbollah, are unlikely to help the regime.)”
U.S. diplomacy has an ability to project force in the Middle East, not just in Syria but Iran as well. Donald Trump has signaled support for the protesters and Mossad has operatives on the ground. The regime is being pressured from without and within.
Does Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have the necessary means to resist this coalition? Hezbollah and Hamas are also under siege and would be able to offer only token support. Putin could dispatch the Wagner Group mercenaries to Iran but given the recent reversals they suffered in Venezuela and Mali, it is unclear how effective they remain as a fighting force.Perhaps Khamenei can call on the Houthis to buttress his failing efforts.
Of course, the Army could be mobilized. Whether they would risk their lives for payment with the rapidly depreciating rial is an open question. They are just as likely to align with the Crown Prince.
So it seems as if the IRGC will have near exclusive responsibility for protecting the theocracy. This makes it easy to identify the leaders and assassinate them. The Mossad is more than equal to this task.
The Shah lost his political legitimacy because of bloody handed reprisals. Ayatollah
Khomeini leveraged this discontentment to seize power. His successor, Ali Khamenei seems not to have got the message that ruthless suppression is unequal to the task of securing the throne. What failed the Shah will prove equally fatal to him.
Let us hope and pray that Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi proves to be a better man than his father.
[…] might find out "pretty soon," indeed, if this report pans out: IRGC Commanders Assassinated; U.S., Israeli Help Expected. "Reports of Mossad agents on the ground helping the revolution," Lawrence Person added at […]
Hopefully the US and the EU have a plan to help a transition government reestablish services. Expertise, advice, materials, etc. That would seem to be the most useful thing, rather than boots on the ground helping keep the peace and making the country look occupied.
“U.S. forces have been hitting Islamic State targets in Syria. (Not sure how relevant this is to Iran. the Islamic State considers shiia heretical so, unlike Hamas or Hezbollah, are unlikely to help the regime.)”
U.S. diplomacy has an ability to project force in the Middle East, not just in Syria but Iran as well. Donald Trump has signaled support for the protesters and Mossad has operatives on the ground. The regime is being pressured from without and within.
Does Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have the necessary means to resist this coalition? Hezbollah and Hamas are also under siege and would be able to offer only token support. Putin could dispatch the Wagner Group mercenaries to Iran but given the recent reversals they suffered in Venezuela and Mali, it is unclear how effective they remain as a fighting force.Perhaps Khamenei can call on the Houthis to buttress his failing efforts.
Of course, the Army could be mobilized. Whether they would risk their lives for payment with the rapidly depreciating rial is an open question. They are just as likely to align with the Crown Prince.
So it seems as if the IRGC will have near exclusive responsibility for protecting the theocracy. This makes it easy to identify the leaders and assassinate them. The Mossad is more than equal to this task.
The Shah lost his political legitimacy because of bloody handed reprisals. Ayatollah
Khomeini leveraged this discontentment to seize power. His successor, Ali Khamenei seems not to have got the message that ruthless suppression is unequal to the task of securing the throne. What failed the Shah will prove equally fatal to him.
Let us hope and pray that Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi proves to be a better man than his father.
[…] might find out "pretty soon," indeed, if this report pans out: IRGC Commanders Assassinated; U.S., Israeli Help Expected. "Reports of Mossad agents on the ground helping the revolution," Lawrence Person added at […]
Hopefully the US and the EU have a plan to help a transition government reestablish services. Expertise, advice, materials, etc. That would seem to be the most useful thing, rather than boots on the ground helping keep the peace and making the country look occupied.