Iran

QU QUODS (“JERSUALEM”) FORCE <2000

 

This is Iran’s equivalent of the US Special Forces in that its mission is to organize, equip, train, advise, and sustain extra-territorial military forces. Since Iran cannot hope to meet its adversaries on a conventional level, of necessity Quds Force works with insurgents.

 

Its main operations in 2009 are:

 

 Iraq  Several insurgent groups

 Lebanon Primarily Hezbollah

 Palestine Establishing a base

 Afghanistan Entering

 Syria   Advisory Capacity

 

Hezbollah’s defense against Israel’s South Lebanon offensive in 2006 showed Quds Force is to be taken very seriously. Nonetheless, given the fractious polity of Iraq, it’s unclear if Quds can be more than an anti-US spoiler in that country. In Palestine it has a long way to go before it can establish itself.

 

 EQUIPMENT (Includes IRGC)

 

MBT	1700[2]
		M-72S 1000 (kit assembly)
		Al Zulfiqar  120 (local assembly)
		Chieftain 100
		T-55[3] 600
LT TANKS AIFV APC ARTY (T) ARTY (SP) AD GUNS	50 90mm Scorpion, may not be in service 1600 (including local BMP-2)  600 (including refurbished M-113s) 1500 600 1700