Israeli Airstrikes Hit Tehran’s Evin Prison, Targeting Political Detainees

Israeli forces conducted airstrikes on Tehran, targeting multiple regime and security locations including the notorious Evin Prison, which is known for detaining political prisoners, activists, and foreign nationals. The strikes reportedly damaged parts of the prison, including the entrance gate, with a drone potentially used to blow up the gates in an apparent effort to free the regime's fiercest critics. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for Iranians to rise against their regime, and the attacks seem intended to destabilize the Ayatollah's control by returning anti-regime activists to the streets. Iran's judiciary confirmed the missile strikes caused damage to Evin Prison but assured the situation was under control with emergency teams deployed. Evin Prison, established in 1972, has a long history of brutal treatment of political dissidents, journalists, and dual nationals, and remains a symbol of the Islamic Republic's crackdown on dissent. The Israeli Defense Forces stated their operations targeted regime and security locations across central Tehran under directives from Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz.