Baqeri: The IRGC and Army Must Engage Directly with the Enemy

The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran states that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Army must be 'directly engaged in combat with the enemy' and that 'relying solely on exercises is not enough.' Fars News Agency reported on Saturday, September 4, that Mohammad Baqeri made this request during the introduction ceremony of Abdolrahim Mousavi as the new Commander of the Army. Baqeri commented that 'merely relying on training and exercises does not fulfill the needs of a force.' He added that military forces 'must have direct engagement on the front lines and confront the enemy' to be prepared. In this context, he urged the Army to 'enhance its forces at the borders and in the fronts where the Islamic Revolution is present.' This senior military commander, for the 'several times,' asked Army commanders to seek out 'revolutionary elements who are interested and have spiritual authenticity' for the Army. The public statement from one of the highest military commanders regarding direct presence in 'fronts where the Islamic Revolution is present' and attracting 'revolutionary' forces into the Iranian Army is unprecedented in the history of the Army. Previously, the IRGC has participated in many military missions outside Iran, but with the onset of conflicts and unrest in Syria, multiple reports have emerged about the presence of Army forces in that country as well. According to some reports, units of the Army, along with IRGC and Basij forces, have engaged in combat with Bashar al-Assad's opponents in Syria, and several Army members have lost their lives in these conflicts. The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran also implicitly called for expanding the presence of Army forces in other regions of the world, which he referred to as 'fronts of the Islamic Revolution.' Currently, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Bahrain, and Yemen are among the areas where the IRGC has a direct or effective presence, and Baqeri's request could signify the Army joining the IRGC in these regions. Unlike the IRGC, which has expanded its missions to intelligence and internal security, the primary mission of the Army is to guard the borders, and in cases of natural disasters, its forces assist other relief groups. According to the Iranian Constitution, 'guarding the independence and territorial integrity and the Islamic Republic system of the country' is the responsibility of the Army, while the IRGC is tasked with 'guarding the Revolution and its achievements.' However, like the Army, the IRGC has four branches that have responsibilities similar to those of the Army, and a division of labor has been established between them. For instance, in the naval domain, based on a division of labor established in 2001, the mission of the IRGC Navy is in the Persian Gulf up to the Strait of Hormuz, while the Army's mission is designated in the Sea of Oman.