"Make Iran Ungovernable": Bellingcat Maps 80+ Police Sites Hit in US-Israel Campaign Targeting Iran's Repressive Capacity

Bellingcat has documented at least 80 police stations and law enforcement–related infrastructure sites damaged or destroyed in the first three weeks of the US and Israel’s coordinated military campaign against Iran. The targeting appears deliberate: analysts and experts consulted by Bellingcat say the strikes are designed to degrade the Iranian regime's so-called "repressive capacity"—the institutional apparatus used to maintain internal control and suppress dissent.

Using satellite imagery combined with available photos and videos, Bellingcat's analysis identified at least 15 police stations damaged or destroyed in Tehran alone, with additional strikes concentrated in Iran's north and western regions. These areas align with targets outlined in an Israeli Defence Forces map released March 31, suggesting a structured, geographically deliberate campaign rather than incidental collateral damage. The broader strike package has included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities, Navy vessels, and weapons manufacturing sites—thousands of individual strikes across the country since operations began. The systematic focus on police infrastructure marks a notable operational pattern distinct from purely military or strategic targeting.

The implications are significant. By systematically degrading law enforcement capabilities alongside conventional military assets, the campaign appears aimed at undermining the regime's ability to enforce internal order, control populations, and respond to potential unrest. Experts suggest this strategy reflects a broader intent to erode the Iranian state's capacity to govern effectively, particularly if popular dissatisfaction were to surface during or after the conflict. Whether this approach succeeds in destabilizing the regime or instead hardens its posture remains uncertain, but the operational tempo and precision of these strikes signal a sustained, methodical effort rather than a short-term offensive.