Revolutionary Guards

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is a branch of Iran's armed forces, established after the 1979 revolution to protect the country's Islamic system. It operates as a parallel military force to the regular army, with significant influence in Iran's military, political, and economic sectors. Recent reports indicate a shift in Iran's regional strategy, with the IRGC increasingly using its own firepower to protect proxy groups, rather than solely projecting power through them, particularly in the context of escalating Israeli attacks on Lebanon. This suggests a more direct and assertive role for the IRGC in regional conflicts. The IRGC chief, Ahmad Vahidi, was noted among senior regime figures attending a recent funeral, highlighting the organization's prominent position within Iran's leadership structure. The IRGC's actions and strategic posture are therefore highly relevant to understanding current geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East.