The Iranian Revolutionary Guardofficially known as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRC), was formed in 1979, shortly after the Islamic Revolution that overthrew to Shah Mohamed Reza Pahlavi.
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This body was initially conceived to protect the new Islamic system and its leaders. However, over the years, it has become a highly relevant entity in the military panorama, political and economic of Iran.
The Cgri has more than 150,000 active members and has its own land, navy and air forces under its control. Additionally, it oversees the country’s strategic weapons, including ballistic missiles.
Added to this is control over the Basij, a paramilitary force that has played a crucial role in the repression of internal dissent. It also exerts influence on the Iranian economy through bonyads, which are large charitable foundations that manage vast resources.
The outer arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard
As published by the BBC in an article, one of the most powerful arms of the Cgri is the Quds Forcean elite group in charge of managing relations with allies and armed groups in the foreign.
This arm has been a key element in expanding Iranian influence in the region.
They provide advice, training, money and weapons to actors in countries such as Iraq, Lebanon and Syria. The Quds Force is credited with several covert operations and attacks, including the bombing of 1983 against the barracks in Beirut, which left more than 300 dead between Americans, french and Lebanese civilians.
The general Mohamed Reza Zahedi, Killed in Damascus in an attack attributed to Israel, he was one of the most prominent leaders of this force.
His death, along with that of his second in command, Mohamed Hadi Haji-Rahimihas been a significant blow to Iran, especially in its links with Hezbollah and its participation in operations in Syria.
This fact has intensified tensions between Iran and Israel, which accuses the Quds Force of promoting and financing terrorism in the region. The administration of donald trump He came to classify it as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2019.
Recent operations and tensions with Israel
On October 1, 2024, Israel was attacked by Iran with around 180 ballistic missilesin an offensive that raised military tensions in the region. Although the Israeli defense system managed to intercept several missiles, the attack left visible consequences in the cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
In response, Israel’s Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi vowed that Iran will pay the price in due course.
The governments of Syria, Lebanon and armed groups such as Hezbollah are some of the beneficiaries of the Iranian strategy
The attack has been attributed as retaliation for the recent deaths of Ismail Haniyeh and Hasan Nasrallah, two figures linked to the conflict between Iran and Israel.
Despite the efforts of the Revolutionary Guard to ensure that their objectives were exclusively military, at least one Palestinian civilian died in Jericho, underscoring the complex web of violence that engulfs both countries.
Since its creation, the CGR has not only protected the Islamic regime within Iranian borders, but has also exported its influence to other territories in the Middle East. With the Quds Force At the head, this group has been key in supporting allied governments and insurgent movements.
The governments of Syria, Lebanon and armed groups such as Hezbollah are some of the beneficiaries of the Iranian strategy. Its intervention in the Syrian civil war in favor of Bashar al Assad has been one of the decisive factors in prolonging the conflict.
The Revolutionary Guard, led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, remains one of the pillars of power in Iran.
Its capacity for political, economic and military maneuver not only allows it to play a leading role within the country, but it is also seen as one of the most influential actors in the region’s conflicts.
With information from EFE
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