Israel launched a barrage of strikes overnight in Iran, taking out 300 members of the Basij paramilitary force, an all-volunteer branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, along with its commander Gholamreza Soleimani, its deputy commander, and senior officials.

The strikes targeted key command and operational centers of the brutally repressive force that participated in the bloody crackdown on the January protests that saw as many as 36,000 protesters killed, according to some human rights groups.

The strikes reportedly destroyed a Basij maintenance and repair center that housed hundreds of motorcycles and vehicles the Basij deployed in street operations, taking out the entire fleet. Buildings that belonged to the IRGC responsible for Tehran operations also appeared to be destroyed. Strategic command centers and security battalions that played a role in the crackdowns also sustained heavy damage.