An unknown actor with significant intelligence access managed in recent days to send thousands of death threats to members of the Basij, the militia responsible for crushing riots and civilian resistance to the Iranian ayatollah regime. Thousands of Basij phone numbers – belonging to members with SIM cards granting them network access – received an identical message calling on them to surrender or defect.
"You are under our complete surveillance. We know what crimes you have committed against the Iranian people. We have identified you and all your associates. Surrender or flee. There will be no second warning," the message read.
The threatening messages arrived after senior security force commanders last week sent their own threatening messages to anyone who dared oppose the regime. Iranian authorities issued direct threats against civilians as US-Israeli strikes continued, warning that security forces would use lethal force against suspected looters and protesters. Ahmadireza Radan, Iran's chief law enforcement commander, announced that Basij members had been authorized to shoot anyone who broke the law and posed a threat to Basij or police forces.
"Since we are in a state of war, I have issued a 'shoot to kill' order to deal with potential looters," Radan said in an interview with state television. "If a looter is caught by our forces, he will be shot and neutralized." Authorities also threatened "clueless and ignorant children" who joined anti-regime protests.
