In early 2026, Iran’s elite military units, mainly part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a powerful branch of the armed forces continue to play a key role in the country’s defense and regional influence. Despite heavy losses from the short Israel-Iran conflict in June 2025, these specialized groups maintain their reach through alliances with friendly militias, domestic security efforts, and ongoing training programs. The IRGC has about 190,000 members in total, with its overseas operations unit, the Quds Force, estimated at 5,000 to 15,000 skilled operatives focused on unconventional tactics like guerrilla warfare, intelligence gathering, and aiding partner groups in the Middle East. Their strengths lie in mixed strategies that combine missile attacks, drone use, and online operations to make up for gaps in traditional military power.
The 12-day war in June 2025 was a major test. Israel started Operation Rising Lion, striking nuclear sites, missile bases, and top leaders, including the IRGC’s head Hossein Salami and aerospace leader Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Iran fired back with more than 500 missiles, but most were stopped by Israeli defenses, revealing weaknesses in breaking through enemy shields. The conflict disrupted the IRGC’s leadership, leading Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to name Mohammad Pakpour as the new IRGC commander and Ahmad Vahidi a former Quds Force leader as his deputy. Vahidi’s job emphasizes improving readiness and supporting troops, showing internal discussions on priorities like buying better air defense systems after the war.
Iran’s elite units include the Quds Force for actions abroad, the Saberin Unit for quick-response missions, and special teams for handling unrest at home, with around 60,000 members spread across 1,400 cities. The IRGC’s ground forces are changing significantly, moving from local defense setups to more flexible brigade structures with digital tools and artificial intelligence for predicting threats and operating self-flying drones. This update aims to deal with complex dangers, with advanced “secret” weapons described by Army Ground Force Commander Kiumars Heidari as making it hard for enemies to survive.
These units excel in indirect warfare. The Quds Force manages Iran’s network of allies, known as the “Axis of Resistance,” by providing weapons, training, and information to groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis in Yemen, and militias in Iraq. In 2025, it helped build security links with Venezuela, sharing drone technology despite U.S. restrictions. Inside Iran, elite forces manage public protests, using special teams and volunteer Basij groups to respond forcefully to demonstrations that spread to 17 provinces after the war by December 2025. There are reports of mix-ups, like clashes between special units and Basij in Tehran on January 6, 2026, during efforts to control crowds.
Recent exercises show their ability to adapt. The December 2025 Sahand-Antiterror-2025 drill, held with countries from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, featured IRGC elite forces practicing hostage rescues, border operations, drone attacks, and helicopter raids with real bullets. This event after the war highlighted Iran’s shift toward partnerships in Asia and Europe to counter isolation from the West and boost its image in fighting terrorism. In Syria, Israeli actions broke up Quds Force-related groups in 2025, with captures showing they recruited locals through payments and tricks.
However, problems remain. The war exposed shortages in standard equipment: few modern fighter jets, helicopters, scouting tools, and navy capabilities. Iran’s military ranks 16th worldwide, behind Israel but ahead of Spain, relying heavily on long-range missiles for protection. Economic pressures from international penalties and ongoing protests weaken unity, with claims of hiring foreign fighters from Arab countries for crowd control. The U.S. has targeted IRGC-connected companies for spreading drone and missile tech.
Most experts believe the government will handle the current unrest without falling apart soon or facing outside attacks. Still, Iran warns it will act first against any spotted dangers, focusing on rebuilding missile stocks. A former IRGC leader, Mohammad Ali Jafari, stressed that missiles are the main way to deter threats, more than air or ground troops.
Overall, Iran’s elite military units are rebuilding, using alliances and technology improvements to keep their impact. Though hit by defeats and domestic issues, their indirect strengths supported by 580,000 active troops and worldwide networks keep them important. As 2026 progresses, their work in managing protests and regional activities will challenge Iran’s stability under growing attention from the U.S. and Israel.
BakuTiflis 