Illustrative photo: The commander-in-chief of the Iranian army, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, speaking at a gathering in front of the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran, on Nov. 4, 2019. (Credit: Atta Kenare/AFP)
Since launching its military operation on June 13, Israel has intensified airstrikes on Iranian targets, focusing on figures linked to the country’s security and military establishment. Among those killed are the chief of staff of the armed forces, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) aerospace force, the IRGC’s top commander, and the chief of Iran’s emergency military command.These strikes reflect a clear strategy: dismantling the upper echelons of Iran’s military leadership. They also expose the complex structure of the Iranian armed forces, which is divided between a conventional army and an ideological force. Though both report to the same supreme authority, they operate under distinct mandates.What are the key differences between these forces, and how do they function? Catch up on the context: Fars, Tasnim,...
Since launching its military operation on June 13, Israel has intensified airstrikes on Iranian targets, focusing on figures linked to the country’s security and military establishment. Among those killed are the chief of staff of the armed forces, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) aerospace force, the IRGC’s top commander, and the chief of Iran’s emergency military command.These strikes reflect a clear strategy: dismantling the upper echelons of Iran’s military leadership. They also expose the complex structure of the Iranian armed forces, which is divided between a conventional army and an ideological force. Though both report to the same supreme authority, they operate under distinct mandates.What are the key differences between these forces, and how do they function? Catch up on the context: Fars,...