TEHRAN - Ground Force units of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) exercised “asymmetric tactics” on the second day of their wargames in Eastern Iran on Sunday, said a Iranian military source.
"Asymmetric" in geometry refers to anything without symmetry.
Asymmetric warfare refers to anything without pattern, or more directly, anything non-conventional.
Examples of conventional warfare:
--troops with uniforms
--general issue and training of weapons
--emphasis on defensive strategies
--public accountability
--legitimate authority derived from a sovereign nation to conduct war
Examples of non-conventional:
--illegal militia or paramilitary
--no public accountability
--no overt government authority
--use of hit-and-run tactics
--predominently soft targets (civilians, industries) as opposed to hitting military targets…
SHOHADAY-E- VAHDAT (MARTYERS OF UNITY)
The IRGC Ground Force on Saturday started a series of military exercises, codenamed "Shohaday-e Vahdat (Martyrs of Unity)", in Khaf general zone, East of Iran.
IRANIAN REVOLUTION GUARD CORPS (IRGC)
"At this stage of the wargames, part of the special and professional units of the IRGC ground force successfully displayed asymmetric warfare tactics and techniques with full coordination and preparedness," General Hamid Sarkheili, the spokesman of Shohaday-e Vehdar wargames, said.
He added that the IRGC's “cavalry units” exercised new asymmetric warfare tactics in the initial phase of the drills today.
- The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is Iran’s most powerful security and military organization, responsible for the protection and survival of the regime.
- The Guards are also currently Iran’s most powerful economic actor, reinforcing their influence over political decisions.
- Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and the Revolutionary Guards have formed a symbiotic relationship that buttresses the supreme leader’s authority and preserves the status quo.
"The armored and mechanized units of the IRGC Ground Force expanded the depth of their operation(al zone) through exercising new asymmetric warfare tactics and relying on mobile firepower, iron-shield and secure and impenetrable communications and then destroyed the hypothetical enemy," the spokesman said, elaborating on the details of today's drills.
Sarkheili noted that part of the IRGC new equipments and modern warfare tactics will be tested in the drills, adding that the main phase of the wargames will be conducted on Monday.
Yesterday, Commander of the IRGC Ground Force Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour said that the wargames are aimed at “boosting security along the Iranian borders” and are part of the IRGC Ground Force's routine drills staged to maintain and boost combat preparedness of different IRGC units.
The Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Major General Mohammad-Ali Ja'fari .
THE GENERAL IN CHARGE OF THE EXERCISES
Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari (born 11 November 1957 in Yazd also known as Aziz Jafariand Ali Jafara) is the commander of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution of Iran. He was appointed by the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, on September 1, 2007, to succeed Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi.
According to a September 2, 2007, report on Radio Farda (as reported by Radio Free Europe), Jafari has been close to the conservative subfaction which includes Mohsen Rezaee (the secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council and former commander of the IRGC) and Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf (a former IRGC member and the mayor of Tehran). His replacement of Yahya Rahim Safavi the former IRGC commander, was thought to be a move by Khamenei to strengthen the conservative faction as a counterweight to the radicalizers around President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Safavi is close to Ahmadinejad).
"Observers appear to regard Jafari as principally a tactician, organizer, and 'technical' military man," according to Radio Free Europe.
The EU's official journal said the three Iranian Revolutionary Guard members now subject to sanctions had been "providing equipment and support to help the Syrian regime suppress protests in Syria". He was added along with Maj Gen Qasem Soleimani and and the Guard's deputy commander for intelligence, Hossein Taeb.
Jafari's work on asymmetrical warfare strategies include the use of Iranian terrain in mobile-defensive operations and rely on lessons and experiences learned in the Iran–Iraq War. Jafari said in Tehran on September 3, 2007, given "the enemy's" numerical or technological superiority, the IRGC would use asymmetrical warfare capabilities such as those used by Hezbullah in its 2006 conflict with Israel in Lebanon.
Iranian strategy would also reflect the strengths and weaknesses of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, he said.
On September 2, 2007, Radio Farda reported Jafari has extensive fighting experience and reportedly close relations with the commanders of the former Badr force of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI).
“Asymmetrical warfare is the only way Iran can confront the superior forces of the US Military and hope to win. General Jafari is an expert in such warfare tactics, he is also a expert in irregular warfare. If war erupts the US military will want to kill or capture him immediately”, says Francis Cooper of Charlotte, a former military tactician and expert in asymmetrical warfare history and development. “Jafari is considered by many people in Charlotte to be the most dangerous man in Iran in terms of his ability to wage war against the US if war erupts…” he said.
Robert Tilford
Charlotte, N.C.
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