Iranian Military Doctrine
While Iranian military doctrine is primarily pragmatic, ideological and religious support for doctrine is required from this position in the Iranian government
Who is the Supreme Leader?
This Syrian leader was Iran’s closest regional ally because his regime provided a bridge to resupply Hezbollah and a platform to threaten Israel
Who is Bashar al-Assad?
This Yemeni group utilizes an attrition strategy against Saudi Arabia, receiving training and sophisticated weapons like cruise missiles and UAVs from Iran’s Quds Force
Who are the Houthis?
Repeatedly in Iranian history, the state has maintained this number of competing military organizations.
What is two?
This Quds Force chief was the primary architect of Iran’s interventions in Syria and Iraq, coordinating between local Shiite militias and even aiding Kurdish forces against ISIS
Who was Qassem Soleimani?
The prospect of Yemen becoming an Iran-friendly state led this Saudi crown prince to launch a risky military intervention in 2015
Who is Mohammed bin Salman (or MBS)?
This 1980–1988 conflict seared itself into the worldview of Iranian leadership, leading the military to prioritize asymmetric naval defense, proxies, and a massive ballistic missile program
What is the Iran-Iraq War?
To preserve the Assad regime, the IRGC helped establish a pro-government paramilitary force known by this Syrian name, which recruited heavily from Alawite and Shiite backgrounds to operate in their home regions in Syria
What are the National Defense Forces?
This country’s military became the de facto ruler of the port city of Aden after successfully pushing out pro-Houthi groups in 2015
What is the United Arab Emirates (or UAE)?
To withstand a potential foreign invasion, Iran developed this specific doctrine, which relies on a large, dispersed guerrilla force to harass and exhaust an occupier
What is mosaic defense?
In Iraq, militias were incorporated into these Iraqi groups to fight ISIS; while they showed courage, their reliance on Iranian backing sometimes weakened the authority of the central Iraqi state
What are the Popular Mobilization Units (or Forces)?
Saudi Arabia initially approached this nation to provide the experienced ground forces needed to defeat the Houthis, but they declined
What is Pakistan?
This Iranian military organization enjoys more influence in Iranian foreign policy than its rival.
What is the Revolutionary Guard Corps?
ISIS success in Iraq was facilitated by the sectarian and heavy-handed policies of this Iraqi Prime Minister, who appointed commanders based on loyalty rather than competence
Who is Nouri al-Maliki?
This March-May 2025 U.S. military operation targeted the Houthis until an agreement to stop attacking U.S. forces was reached
What is Operation Rough Rider?