US and Israel Pursue Regime Change in Iran Through Targeted Strikes
Recent attacks targeting police stations in Iran are part of a deliberate strategy by the United States and Israel to destabilize the Iranian government and encourage regime change, according to experts. These strikes, focused on law enforcement infrastructure, aim to create conditions for widespread unrest without direct military intervention.
Targeting Law Enforcement: A Strategy for Regime Change
Yossi Mekelberg, a senior consulting fellow with the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, asserts that the focused attacks on police stations demonstrate a clear objective: to encourage Iranians to overthrow their government. “It’s about regime change,” Mekelberg stated. “We don’t suppose the US and Israel have any intention to set boots on the ground, so there is the expectation [that they will need to] create the conditions for the Iranian people to go back to the streets.”
Historical Context: Tehran and Kurdish Regions
Tehran, historically a center for liberal and nationalist dissent, experienced significant protests against the government late last year. These demonstrations were met with a forceful crackdown by Iranian security forces, including the police. Mekelberg explains, “Tehran is the centre of power of the Iranian regime – if it collapses, if they can’t control the capital, the assumption is the rest will follow suit.”
Simultaneously, Kurdish-majority cities like Sanandaj have long sought greater rights and autonomy from the central government in Tehran. Following reports of Ayatollah Khamenei’s death, residents of Sanandaj publicly celebrated. Yet, the city quickly became a target of attacks on March 2nd.
Attacks on Police Infrastructure
The regional headquarters of the Special Units Command, a branch of the Iranian police responsible for suppressing protests, was among the first targets hit in Sanandaj. Attacks as well targeted the city’s regular police headquarters and smaller police stations. Sky News has verified footage of strikes on a total of 12 police stations in Kurdish-majority cities, as well as 17 in Tehran. The Institute for the Study of War has verified attacks on a further three police stations in Tehran and four in Kurdish areas.
“One of the ways to instigate and maybe accelerate [regime change] is by dismantling the police and the security forces,” says Mekelberg. “And that’s what Israel and the US are doing, bombing dozens of police stations.”
Expert Insights
Yossi Mekelberg is a senior consulting fellow with the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, having joined the organization in 2002. He previously served as a professor of international relations at Regent’s University.
Mekelberg discussed the attacks on Tehran in an interview with CGTN on Saturday, March 7, 2026.