Iran’s armed forces consists of a multitude of different services, including the Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, an Air Defense Force which is responsible for providing an anti-aircraft security net, and a law enforcement branch. This structure remains somewhat similar to the Shah-era military structure, save for the Air Defense Force which became its own branch separate from the Air Force in 2008, as well as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps which contains its own ground force, navy, and aerospace force. In addition to the IRGC’s other branches is the Quds Force, which performs asymmetrical warfare abroad, and the Basij, a paramilitary unit. These branches all have personnel equipped with various different types of tactical equipment, with many pieces acquired pre-Islamic Revolution transferring over to the newly formed Iranian Army.
Sanctioned Militia
Operation Sword Edge – Sayeret Matkal’s Covert Operation
On the night of 11 November, 2018 the prestige of the Israeli elite force, the General Staff Reconnaissance Unit “Sayeret Matkal” was damaged by the Palestinian fighters of the “Al-Qassam Brigades” and the consequences of the operation led to the resignation of notable members of the Israeli government. The Israelis believed that Sayeret Matkal using the latest modern technological means, they could breach the security and military system of the Qassam Brigades, but apparently they failed.
The Kalashnikovs of Saudi Forces in Yemen – Part 1
The Saudi military’s various branches utilize a wide variety of small arms, but among those deployed in and along the border with Yemen, derivatives of the Kalashnikov or AK-pattern self-loading rifle are surprisingly some of the most common. This article will explore the different varieties of AK-pattern rifles in use with Saudi forces and how they are used. This study draws its data and sources largely from an extensive private image collection provided to Silah Report of open-source social media photos and videos taken by soldiers of the Royal Saudi Land Forces, the Saudi National Guard, and the Saudi Border Guard and is thus able to paint a uniquely representative picture of the weapons they use. Indeed, the data provided showed that Kalashnikov derivatives make up well over half of the assault rifles in the dataset, far outpacing the presence of the Saudis’ signature G36, G3, and AUG self-loading rifles.
Hekmatyar’s AK
Recently, a colleague from Afghan Eye, an independent media organisation covering Afghanistan, shared with us a video uploaded by a Twitter user which purportedly showed an Afghan elder of some renown handling and firing an AK-pattern rifle. The man in question was Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.
Project: Qasd Al-Sabeel – Recovering Munitions In Gaza
In 2020 Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, revealed for the first time that part of the efforts it is making to develop its military capabilities to face the plans to disarm the Palestinian armed factions along with the blockade of weapons and ammunition into Gaza Strip include salvaging unexploded Israeli munitions and scouring the wrecks of a pair of World War One warships.
Underground Military Production In Gaza (Part 3)
In this article we continue our series on Palestinian underground weapons manufacturing, in the previous part we reviewed some of the hand grenades and rocket weaponry made locally by Hamas. In this article, we will examine mortars, anti-armor weapons and UAVs. Check out the previous parts of the series here and here.
Underground Military Production In Gaza – Part 2
In the first article of this series on Palestinian underground weapons manufacturing, we reviewed some of the weaponry made locally by Hamas including pistols, submachine guns and anti-tank rifles. In this article, we will continue to explore more of their production capabilities. Check out part one of this series here.
Underground Military Production In Gaza – Part 1
From 1948 to the present time, many battles had taken place in the Middle East as part of the Arab-Israeli conflict, some countries have been relying on external sources to supply them with weapons needed for fighting, but historically it has not only been official governments which have clashed with Israel. There are also some political parties and militias which couldn’t simply import weapons officially from a foreign source so they have to resort to plan B – making their own tools of war themselves. In this article we will take a look at one of the main players in the Middle East conflict; the HAMAS movement and its military wing the Ezz el-Din al-Qassam brigades, who operate in Gaza-Palestine.
Tactical Analysis: The Al-Maleka Operation’s Mistakes
On 29 November 2004, two militants from the Gaza Strip performed a suicidal raid (a martyrdom operation from the Palestinian point of view since the attackers knew its was a one-way trip) against an Israeli military site called Al-Malaka (Al-Maleka) inside the strip. This operation took place in 2004 before the former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon decided to unilaterally withdraw his troops and dismantle Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip in 2005. In this article, we will discuss the operation step by step from a tactical perspective
Palestinian Factions Hold Joint ‘Tough Corner’ Maneuvers in Gaza
On 29th December, 2020, all of the Palestinian armed resistance factions in Gaza organized and participated in joint maneuvers under the name of “The Tough Corner”, the reason behind that name is the message they wanted to send: (‘Our Unity Is Our Tough Corner’). Also the date was chosen to correspond with the 12th anniversary of the Gaza War that took place in 2008/2009.