The Guard Corps of the Islamic Revolution: A Significant Military Force in Middle Eastern Issues

In 1978-79, a chain of major events occurred in Iran, as a result of which a government coup took place in the state. The popular unrest began with anti-government demonstrations, which were brutally suppressed by the Shah's military forces. At the end of 1978, strikes took a more decisive character, which led to total paralysis of the economy and a rapid loss of authority and power by the Shah government. Unable to withhold Power, Shah Mohammed Rez Pahlavi fled the country. Early next year, Iran was declared a republic, and its new state head was Ayatollah Khomeini.

Protection of Achievements and Guards of the Islamic Revolution

As in many states that survived a government coup or revolution, proshakh forces still remained in Iran, and there was a real threat of counter-revolution. To protect the new leader of the country and his government, the so-called Guard Corps of the Islamic Revolution was established. It was formed from paramilitary groups that arose during the period of the revolution.

Support of the regime

The corps of the guards of the Islamic revolution eventually did not descend from the stage of history, but only strengthened its influence and became a kind of alternative army, Intended for the protection of the state. In 1982, the organization's charter was approved , where it was once again confirmed that its main goal is to protect the achievements of the revolution (that is, in effect the current regime in the country), as well as to maximize the domination of Islam, strengthen Iran's defense potential and military preparedness of the people's militia.

Structure and size

Approximate number of the formation for today is estimated at 130 thousand people. The Guard Corps of the Islamic Revolution has a very branched structure. The organization of the whole army divides it into 31 territorial corps - one in each region of the Iranian Republic. The structure of its ground forces is about 100 thousand people. The remaining units are the naval forces of the IRGC, the air force and the corps of the border guards. In the subordination of the formation is also the people's militia, called here "Basiji." In the arsenal of the IRGC are artillery systems, armored vehicles, chemical weapons, combat aircraft. Moreover, the state funding of this corps is even higher than that of the official army. All the fighters pass Rigid psychological selection, and, hitting in the detachment, are subjected to a massive ideological treatment. To die for the cause of the Islamic revolution is not an empty phrase for them. It is the fighting spirit that is an important advantage of this formation in front of the armies of many secular states, where motivation is limited mainly by material goods. The IRGC fighters are fanatics in the most literal sense of the word.

Participation in hostilities

During its existence, the Guard Corps of the Islamic Revolution managed to take an active part in the war of Iran and Iraq, in the 1980s, in the civil war in Lebanon, in Syria, in the conflict in the north of Iran with the Kurds and in Balochistan. In addition, the corps is directly related to the formation and further support of the Hezbollah grouping.