Iran's Armed Forces Chief of Operations: The IRGC Manages the Resistance Front

Ali Shadmani, the Deputy Chief of Operations of the Iranian Armed Forces, stated on Saturday, April 24, that the leader of the Islamic Republic has entrusted the management of the 'Resistance Front' to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Shadmani told the Fars news agency: 'Iran has established its own security against all threats alone and, in addition, has established the security of Iraq and Syria and also helps with the security of Afghanistan, Palestine, and Lebanon.' He added: 'In the area of the Resistance Front, during the 8-year war, we could only organize part of the Kurds in northern Iraq because they were aligned with us and worked against Saddam, but now in Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Afghanistan, all the people who are interested in fighting against imperialism stand under the banner of the Supreme Leader.' Ali Shadmani stated: 'We openly declare that we will support the resistance in Yemen just like in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, and Afghanistan.' He also added: 'You can see the role of the IRGC in deterrence today. Who manages the Resistance Front? The Supreme Leader has entrusted this matter to a group within the IRGC, and today it is the IRGC that manages the Resistance Front.' The Islamic Republic of Iran refers to the Syrian government and groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and other Palestinian factions opposing Middle East peace as forming the 'Resistance Front' against Israel. While the Deputy Chief of Operations of the Armed Forces of Iran speaks of the management of the 'Resistance Front' by the IRGC, countries in the region have expressed concern over Iran's expanding influence. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last month accused Iran of attempting to dominate the Middle East, stating that Tehran's efforts have 'exasperated' Ankara, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf Arab states. The Deputy Chief of Operations of the Iranian Armed Forces further referred to the crisis in Yemen, stating: 'We provide advice and spiritual assistance to the Yemenis.' This Iranian military official emphasized: 'Today, the operational front of Iran extends from the mouth of the Arvand River to Bab al-Mandab.' He also stated: 'We do not consider Al Saud to be Muslim. From a military perspective, the full capacity of the Saudis was to come with airplanes and bomb the infrastructure of a poor country. But did they dare to start a ground war?' While the Deputy Chief of Operations of the Iranian Armed Forces has reported providing advice to the Houthi Shiites, Gulf Arab countries accuse Iran of supplying arms to the Shiite militants in Yemen. In this context, Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi last month described the Houthi Shiite militants as Iran's puppet in the country, accusing the group of leading Yemen to destruction. Meanwhile, Iran denies providing financial assistance and military training to the Houthis.