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Israeli officials are warning that Iran’s ongoing internet blackout is shaping the battlefield in ways that extend far beyond cyberspace, limiting visibility of the impact of US and Israeli attacks while tightening the regime’s grip on its own population.
Multiple Israeli sources told Fox News that the blackout is not only preventing information from leaving Iran, but also preventing citizens from organizing internally, at a time when pressure on the regime is increasing. According to Israeli officials, efforts by citizens to access the Internet through satellite services such as Starlink have been disrupted through jamming, while hundreds of individuals suspected of using such terminals have been detained.
“This is an affront to the truth,” a senior Israeli intelligence official told Fox News. “The regime is hiding the reality from its own people. They don’t want the Iranian people to see how badly they are being affected.”
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Attacks on the Iranian leadership, the IRGC, and Iranian naval vessels and oil infrastructure have roiled the markets. (Sasan/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
According to the official, the information void inside Iran is being filled by state-controlled narratives.
The Israeli official said, “Iranians only know what they see on TV channels controlled by the Islamic regime, which show America and Israel being destroyed.”
But the impact goes beyond perception. The blackout is also affecting ground behavior.
“And it’s not just about what people see, it’s about what they can do,” the official said. “Cutting off the Internet prevents people from communicating, sharing what’s really happening, and organizing.”
The sanctions come as the Iranian regime faces both external military pressure and internal unrest following a brutal crackdown in early 2026. In January, security forces opened fire on protests nationwide, with reports suggesting that more than 30,000 people could be killed within a few days.
Against that backdrop, Israeli officials say the blackout reflects the regime’s fear of renewed unrest.
“The Iranian people are one of the things the regime fears most,” the official said. “That’s why this blackout was such a priority.”
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The Iran Internet blackout continues with heavy filtering despite partial restoration, costing more than $780 million, according to analyst Simon Migliano. (Majid Asgharipour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)
According to Israeli officials, the result is a war that is taking place largely out of public view.
“This is one of the least visible wars in modern history because very little footage of it is emerging,” the official said. “When this blackout is lifted, the full extent of the damage done to the regime will become clear. Right now, we are only seeing a small glimpse of how badly they are being destroyed.”
Israeli sources also directly linked the blackouts to high-value military targets.
Citing Iran’s intelligence ministry, the official claims the US and Israel have “removed 25 senior commanders from MOIS.”
“When most of the people had gathered for a meeting, they were eliminated in the initial attack,” the officer said. He said those targeted were involved in the management of the blackout.
The official identified Ismail Khatib among those killed and described him as “the intelligence minister who was the person who signed off on the blackout.”
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Iranians gather blocking a road during a protest in Tehran, Iran on January 9, 2026. (MAHSA/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
American analysts say that the information sector is becoming a central front in the conflict.
John Spencer, executive director of the Urban Warfare Institute, wrote on X that “Iran has repeatedly cut off Internet access to control its population. That ability can be reversed.”
Spencer argued that external actors could change the balance by targeting governance communications while enabling citizen connectivity.
He wrote, “Disrupt regime command networks while enabling connectivity to populations through external systems. Information becomes a weapon.” “Control of the narrative, coordination and awareness shifts away from governance.”
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Iranian security forces reportedly killed detainees and burned bodies during protests, with clashes continuing in Kermanshah, Rasht and Mashhad, despite government claims. (NCRI)
He also pointed to the underlying instability inside Iran, noting that the country’s population is “over 85 million, young, urban, and frequently disaffected”, with protest activity suggesting that a significant portion opposes the regime.
“So far, citizens have largely been told to shelter in place,” Spencer wrote. “That may change.”
Fox News Digital contacted the Iranian mission to the United Nations, which responded, “No comment.”
Fox News Digital contacted the White House for comment.
