Fatehin Special Unit of Basij, 'Power of Sarallah' exercise

Iran's Basij national guard forces on 02SEP15 commenced 'Power of Sarallah' exercises in and around Tehran, said to mobilize units of Imam Ali, Imam Hossein, Beit al Moghaddas, Ashoura, Kowsar, al Zahra Battalions as well as rescue and relief battalions.

The meaning of “Sarallah” is “blood of God,” in reference to the blood spilled by Hossein, the third Shia Imam, at the Battle of Karbala (October 10, 680 AD). The slogan and message of this IRGC exercise is “sustainable security, national sovereignty, influence, empathy and compassion (in the light of Quranic principles...).

Below are images published by Iran media depicting Fatehin (“Conquerors”) Special Unit of Basij, training in exercise of simulated Special Personnel Insertion/Extraction (SPIE), employing locally crafted SPIE rope.

Fatehin members making equipment adjustments. Note newer, more military-appearing parachutist helmets

Fatehin newer BDU camouflage pattern and combat boots similar in appearance to that issued to members of the Iraq Army

Fatehin members equipped with Norinco Type 56-2 assault rifles

Basij Fatehin members installing harness and carabiner equipment for SPIE system

Basij Fatehin members attached to SPIE rope, in simulated Special Personnel Insertion/Extraction operation

Instructor with Fatehin members attached to SPIE rope, in simulated Special Personnel Insertion/Extraction operation

Overhead view of Fatehin force with locally crafted SPIE rope

Photos: Hossein Zohrevand at Tasnim News Agency

Iranian special operations commander KIA, defending Samarra against Daesh

Above: Iranian media reports the KIA of Iranian "special operations" commander Mehdi Nowruzi, while working with Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (Shia militias) in the defense of Samarra against Daesh (ISIL).

Nowruzi has been identified as having served with the Basij in his hometown of Kermansah, being a veteran of the conflicts inside Iraq and Syria. It is further said he played an active part in national security operations during the aftermath of the 2009 presidential election in Iran.

Mehdi Nowruzi, as he was geared as a special operations commander in the fight against Daesh

Commentary: This reporting in Iranian media of another commander KIA'd in Iraq comes during a time when Western mainstream media sources are publishing material on Iran's growing role in the defense of Iraq, as well as it's enhanced influence as a result of the conflict. [see HERE and HERE]

There is even admission by the White House and a member of the Senate that U.S. arms are making their way to Iran-backed Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units. [see HERE]

While certain observers find it troubling-- this heightened level of Iranian influence in Iraq's defense affairs-- it should be taken into account that the Iranians are, in the process, accepting in relative terms a more exceeding commitment, as demonstrated by such sacrifices in both Iraq and Syria.

Basij Student Organization Calls on Quds Force to Defend Kobane

Iran’s Basij Student Organization today called on IRGC-Quds Force Commander Gen. Qasem Soleimani to defend Kobane.

“We urged you to use all the capabilities of the Quds Force to prevent this crime (ISIL’s victory in Kobane),” Basij Student Organization said in a letter addressed to QF’s Gen. Soleimani, copied to Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. (Fars News Agency, 9 October)

The letter warned against “inaction” in Kobane. (FNA)

To read the Fras News report in Farsi, please click here.

File photo: Kobane; 6 October 2014 (AFP)

Basij light infantry battalion training, Qom

Basij light infantry battalion instruction on AK-type assault rifle

Instruction on field stripping AK-type assault rifle

What appears to be light intensity physical exercise training

Basij light infantry battalion physical training drill

Company from Basij light infantry battalion at Qom 

Company from Basij light infantry battalion, parade ground

IRGC field grade officers salute company from Basij light infantry battalion

Basij training on the firing of AK-type assault rifle, in prone and sitting positions

Basij light infantry PK-type light machine gun (LMG) position

Basij light infantry chemical defense drill in the field

Interesting study of Basij light infantry kit, with depiction of Basij-attached Shia cleric outfitted in Basij-issue, MARPAT-inspired BDUs.

Basij light infantry riflemen outfitted in steel helmet with camouflage cover

Entrenched Basij light infantrymen outfitted in three mismatched types of camouflage

Basij light infantrymen making use of entrenching tools

Basij light infantry field camp, Qom reaction zone

Basij light infantry religious drill in the field

Religion-based ideological indoctrination in a Basij classroom

Religion-based ideological education in a Basij classroom

Smartphone employed as personal computing device in a Basij classroom

Photos: Fars News Agency

Tribal Basij participants in Beit al-Moghaddas exercise at Kermanshah

Iranian media photos of Tribal Basij assembled for Beit al-Moghaddas exercise taking place in Kermanshah Province, a territory situated across from Iraq's war-sticken Diyala Governate.

What appears to be Iranian Kurdish Tribal Basij members firing ZU-23-2 mounted on Iranian-built Zamyad Z24 (Nissan Junior) type "technical."

Iranian Turkmen Tribal Basij outfitted in traditional garb over Beit al-Moghaddas issue, MARPAT-inspired BDUs

Drill formation of Iranian Turkmen Tribal Basij equipped with AK-type assault rifles

Drill formation of Iranian Bakhtiari Tribal Basij equipped with AK-type assault rifles

Drill formation of Iranian Baloch Tribal Basij equipped with AK-type assault rifles (note lack of AK magazines for this tribe).

Drill formation of Iranian Arab Tribal Basij equipped with AK-type assault rifles

Merriment among Iranian Arab Tribal Basij and Beit al-Moghaddas quick reaction force light infantry

Basij Beit al-Moghaddas quick reaction force light infantry

Basij Commander Brigadier General Naqdi among IRGC and NEZAJA brigadier generals 2C 

Photos: Javed Hadi at Fars News Agency

Senior Iranian Commander: White House is ISIL’s Headquarters

Tehran’s Growing Anger 

Commander of Iranian Basij Force Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi said today in Tehran that the White House is the “headquarters of ISIL.” Naqdi added that the U.S. has created ISIL in a plot to sow discord in the Islamic world.

“The first objective of the Unite States in creating this criminal current (ISIL) is to portray a distorted image of Islam and this has been achieved through the perpetration of inhumane and savage crimes and their publication by the world media,” Naqdi said, referring to recent beheadings of American and British citizens by ISIL.

“The second objective is to create rift, animosity and war between the Shia and Sunni,” Naqdi added.  (Press TV, 14 September)

Note: Since ISIL’s rapid advances in eastern Syria and western Iraq, beginning with the occupation of Mosul in June, and the establishment of the Islamic Sate, the state-run Iranian media has vigorously portrayed ISIL as a tool of the United States in the region.

Naqdi’s remarks is the clearest sign that the conspiracy theory regarding ISIL is being publicly elevated to an official line of the Islamic Republic. It is hard for Tehran to admit that the IRGC and the Shia militias under the command of its foreign legion, the Quds Force, are fighting Sunni militants in Syria and Iraq. After all, the Quds Force means the “Jerusalem Force,” for liberating Jerusalem, not killing fellow Muslims. So it would be very convenient for them if people started believing that the White House was running the ISIL, and the Iranians were defending Islam in their fight against Americans, and not Shia soldiers and militias killing Sunnis.

Naqdi’s comments are also manifestation of Tehran’s anger at recent events in the region. The post-U.S. invasions political order, which so much favored Iran, is falling apart, and rather rapidly. Assad, who was to scare the Israelis away from attacking Iran, has been bogged down in a bloody war and lost almost half the country. IRGC and Naqdi’s own Basij forces deployed across Syria, as large as they are, and their comrades in the Syrian intelligence, could not even detect and warn Baghdad of pending ISIL insurgents moving toward Mosul in June, mostly from Syria.

The government in Iraq, which had become a client state of Iran, fell and the new government in Baghdad, with much more pronounced Sunni and Kurdish influence than before, is now practically only in control of southern Iraq. The Shia Crescent is not rising. The U.S. is back in Iraq, and probably soon in Syria. The nuclear deal is not advancing, and the country’s economy, which was in a stalemate, now needs to support IRGC and Naqdi’s Basij forces in two very expensive wars: deploying large numbers of military and intelligence operators, as well as heavy ground and air equipment; funding the growing number of Shia militias; supplying arms; supporting Damascus with oil and financial assistance; and all other expenses, like transportation and communication, necessary in modern warfare. And the Iranians, after all this, are not even invited to Paris Conference on ISIL. And General Naqdi and his comrades are angry, and it shows.

File photo: Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi, commander of Iran's Basij Force. (IRNA)

Basij 'Beit ol-Moghaddas' exercises at Kurdistan Province

Basij formations assembled during this week's Beit ol-Moghaddas exercises at Kurdistan Province. Iranian media claims a Basij force of 15,000 militiamen activated for the exercise, taking place in ten cities throughout the province.

Assembled officers from IRGC Beit ol-Moghaddas Corps

Banner details on the Beit ol-Moghaddas parade ground at Sanandaj

Participating in exercise: Iran Red Crescent Society Mil Mi-171E, possible serial 6-9513 

(cn 171E00364073505U)

Left to right:

-Unidentified
-Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, Commander of Basij
-Brigadier General 2C Mohammad Hossein Rajabi, Commander of IRGC Beit ol-Moghaddas Corps
-Unidentified Brigadier General 2C, likely provincial NAJA Border Protection Commander
-Unidentified
-Unidentified Brigadier General 2C, likely provincial NAJA Commander

Basij Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi among armed Kurdish-Iranian elders

Display of honor for fallen Kurdish-Iranian soldiers of the Iran-Iraq War

Kurdish hospitality for visiting Basij Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi

Photos: Bakhtiar Samadi at Fars News Agency and M.L. Hoseini Nasab at Mehr News Agency

'Beit ol-Moghaddas' rapid reaction battalion exercises at Tehran

During the past week, IRGC Mohammad Rasulollah Corps led a two-day “Ala Beit ol-Moghaddas” ("Towards Jerusalem") exercise within Tehran's "five geographical regions."

Left to right:
- Unidentified IRGC Brigadier General 2C, likely in command of assembled 'Beit ol-Moghaddas' rapid reaction battalion exercises
- Commander of Basij, Brigadier General Mohammad-Reza Naqdi
- Commander of Mohammad Rasulollah Corps, IRGC Brigadier General Mohsen Kazemeini

Iranian leadership inspecting assembled 'Beit ol-Moghaddas' rapid reaction battalion for Greater Tehran region

IRGC training deputy among 'Beit ol-Moghaddas' rapid reaction battalion force members

 

An IRGC military brass band (!)

At another geographic region of Tehran, IRGC second lieutenant among elements of 'Beit ol-Moghaddas' rapid reaction battalion. Exercise reportedly included troop movements, ambushes, exercise-related road building efforts, anti-helicopter operations and passive defense measures

IRGC training deputies among ordered columns of 'Beit ol-Moghaddas' rapid reaction battalion

Iran-Iraq war veteran member of 'Beit ol-Moghaddas' rapid reaction battalion

Demonstration of tripod-mounted DShK type heavy machine gun

Setup of firing position for PKM type general machine gun 

Demonstration of PKM type general machine gun 

Extended column of Basij light infantry participating in 'Beit ol-Moghaddas' rapid reaction battalion exercise

Study of young Basij light infantrymen participating in 'Beit ol-Moghaddas' rapid reaction battalion exercise

Situated armor props include decommissioned Ch'ŏnma-ho I (Ga) variant T-62 tank and ZSU-57-2 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun,

IRGC leadership involved in the exercises, including Lieutenant Commander of Basij, Brigadier General Ali Fazli (standing, 2nd from left).

Photo credits:
Milad Alaei, Majid Asgaripour and Azin Haghighi at Fars News Agency
Payam Sani at Mehr News Agency