The Islamic Republic’s Challenges in the Face of Military Strikes on Its Bases

The Islamic Republic claims to possess military superiority and an overwhelming number of combat-ready soldiers. However, any professional observer knows that numerical or statistical superiority in manpower within military institutions does not necessarily translate into real operational strength on the battlefield. In Iran’s case, several critical factors render much of its military capacity largely theoretical:

1. Legitimacy of Command and Force Cohesion:

 ▪️ Iran’s armed forces (IRGC, Army, Basij) are severely fragmented and some of their Islamic ideology has been damaged.

▪️ There is a deep gap between senior commanders and the core of the forces, and these differences will become even more apparent, especially in times of political crisis.

▪️ Many conscripts serve only to fulfill mandatory military service and do not exhibit genuine loyalty or commitment to their commanders.

2. Crisis of Motivation and Morale Among Personnel;

 ▪️Unlike the Iran-Iraq War era, when ideological fervor and the spirit of resistance boosted morale, today the widespread political illegitimacy and systemic corruption have eroded the motivation of military personnel.

▪️Desertion, declining training standards, and the departure of skilled professionals have become increasingly common.

3. Quality vs. Quantity:

▪️While Iran produces drones, missiles, and military equipment, many of these weapons lack precision, real operational range, or reliability in a full-scale war scenario.

▪️Iran’s domestic military production—particularly in the aerospace and armored sectors—remains mediocre or significantly below international standards.

4. Internal Reliance on Proxy Networks Instead of a National Army: 

▪️A large portion of Iran’s military power relies not on its regular armed forces, but on regional proxy networks such as Hezbollah, Hashd al-Shaabi, the Quds Force, and Ansarallah.

▪️These proxies may not engage—or may face internal contradictions—when it comes to defending the Iranian regime itself.

Conclusion:

Although Iran possesses certain theoretical and industrial capabilities, in practice, the gap between the state and society, the loyalty crisis among troops, mutual distrust within the military, and poor living conditions undermine any quantitative advantage. Therefore, in the event of an actual war or internal conflict, Iran’s real military strength is likely far weaker than its outward appearance suggests.

#VictoriaAzad