Operation Badr

In September 2007, the former Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Aziz Ali Jafari (2007-2019), said, “We must be flexible in confronting any threat. The IRGC’s goal is to increase its resilience against enemies of Iran and the Islamic Revolution and strengthen the country’s power and ability to deal with threats to prevent the enemy from acting against the country and the regime.” Jafari stated that he would try to strengthen the IRGC’s power in three ways: first, prepare the IRGC forces for asymmetric warfare; second, improve the country’s intelligence collection power to have better information on enemy’s activities in the region; third, improve country’s missiles capabilities. Aziz Jafari did not mention strengthening and enhancing the use of drones or unmanned aircraft systems. It seems that the IRGC has been working and improving its drone technology covertly since the Iran/Iraq War. The IRGC has around 90 drones for commercial, surveillance, tactical, and suicide missions. The IRGC not only shipped its suicide drones to Russia to be used against Ukraine but also equipped its proxies such as Lebanese Hezbollah, Yemeni Houthis, the Syrian army, and Iraqi Shia Militia groups with all kinds of armed drones. The IRGC also has sold armed drones to Venezuela, Ethiopia, and soon Armenia to use in case of war again with the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Iranian drones look primitive and unsophisticated but are still very lethal. A small and innovative drone, made of wood and foam with a small engine carrying about 5 kg of explosives, may seem unimportant and impractical at first glance. But effectively using such a simple and primitive drone can impose a high cost on the enemy. Iran has decided to enter a drone market focusing on more accurate, longer-range drones. The use of technologically capable Iranian drones as Iranians advance their drone technology, with a more extended range and improved precision, can be devastating to ground forces.

Contemporary approaches to comparative studies of the Middle East increasingly recognize how globalization and regional mass communication have blurred differences across countries. Populations travel across national borders and compare narratives about political change, economic futures, and the role of the outside world in shaping their lives. Organized by five principal themes of a regional overview, politics, economic development, social context, and international issues, Interpreting the Middle East provides a vibrant introduction to the Middle East that is compatible with this regionalist perspective. Invited authorities contribute insightful and accessible original discussions of central headline-fresh issues such as the aftermath of the Iraq war, Iran's regional ambitions, developments in the Israeli'Palestinian conflict, and the global politics of Middle East oil, gender, and religion. Section introductions by the editor integrate the contributions, and suggested readings, a glossary, and a biographical list of key persons provide helpful guidance for readers.

This historical account of humanity's 5000 year history of recorded conflict looks at ancient wars, modern conflict, and everything in-between.

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This anthology covers Small Wars Journal writings on Iranian and Hezbollah hybrid warfare activities around the world. Writings date from 2007 to 2015, including coverage on the nuclear deal, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC) and Qods Force global movements, and Hezbollah’s expanding influence as Iran’s proxy. This anthology is meant to support the U.S. security debate on a post-nuclear deal Iran and an increasing Hezbollah presence in Middle East affairs as well as Latin America. This volume is composed of sixty chapters divided into four sections on Iran’s military capabilities and nuclear ambitions, Hezbollah’s global operations, Iranian and Hezbollah influence in Middle Eastern security affairs and their activities in Latin America. Also included is a foreword by Jason Rivera, an afterword by Dr. Luis Fleischman, a postscript by Dr. John P. Sullivan, an acronym listing, chapter notes, suggested readings following each section, and short biographies of the fifty-three contributors showcased in this work.

Contemporary approaches to comparative studies of the Middle East increasingly recognize how globalization and regional mass communication have blurred differences across countries. Populations travel across national borders and compare narratives about political change, economic futures, and the role of the outside world in shaping their lives. Organized by five principal themes of a regional overview, politics, political economy, social contexts, and the international dimensions of Middle East issues, Interpreting the Middle East provides a vibrant introduction to the Middle East that is compatible with this regionalist perspective. Invited authorities contribute insightful and accessible original discussions of headline-fresh issues, including the aftermath of the Iraq war, Iran's regional ambitions, developments in the Israeli Palestinian conflict, and the global politics of Middle East oil, as well as the Islamic awakening, conflict in the Western Sahara, civil military relations, economic development, political change, and gender understandings. Section introductions by the editor integrate the contributions, and a glossary, biographical list of key persons, and chronology of significant events provide helpful guidance for readers.