Quds ForceEdit
The Quds Force is the external operations arm of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Its mandate is to project Tehran’s influence far beyond its borders by supporting allied movements, coordinating proxies, and conducting sensitive operations that shape regional security in ways favorable to the Islamic Republic. As a central instrument of Iran’s foreign policy, the Quds Force works through networks across the Middle East and beyond, pairing clandestine activity with overt diplomacy to deter rivals and sustain the regime’s security calculus. It operates under the overall authority of the Supreme Leader and the IRGC leadership, and its actions are often coordinated with Iran’s diplomatic and intelligence apparatus Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Supreme Leader of Iran Iran.
Over the past several decades, the Quds Force has built a sprawling, multi-national network designed to tilt regional balance in Tehran’s favor. It has guided and funded proxies, trained militias, and helped sustain governments aligned with Tehran’s interests. Its influence extends from Lebanon and Syria to Iraq and Yemen, where it has supported groups that challenge Western influence and traditional Arab monarchies. Notable relationships include long-standing ties to Hezbollah in Lebanon, and to various Shiite militias and allied formations in Iraq and Syria. The force has also been linked, through public and semi-public channels, to activities in Palestinian territories and to movements and factions seeking to counter Israel and Western interests. The leadership of the Quds Force has included prominent commanders such as Qasem Soleimani until his death in 2020, followed by Esmail Qaani; the force remains closely aligned with Tehran’s overarching security establishment and the office of the Supreme Leader Quds Force IRGC Iran.
History and Organization
The Quds Force traces its roots to Iran’s efforts to export influence abroad in the aftermath of the 1979 revolution and the subsequent security challenges faced by the new regime. It emerged as the external-action arm within the broader framework of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to coordinate overseas operations, intelligence, and support for allied movements. The unit is typically described as operating “outside Iran’s borders” and as acting with direct authorization from the country’s highest security authorities. The force maintains a hierarchical link to the Supreme Leader and to the IRGC’s senior command, while also maintaining separate liaison channels with proxy organizations and allied governments. Its core function is to build and sustain networks that can be mobilized quickly in response to regional developments, including training, equipping, and advising allied forces Quds Force IRGC Supreme Leader of Iran.
Leadership has played a central role in shaping the force’s doctrine and style of operation. Qassem Soleimani, until his death in 2020, was one of the most recognizable figures associated with the Quds Force, directing a broad portfolio of external operations. He was succeeded by Esmail Qaani, who has continued the pattern of leveraging proxy groups and state-backed allies to advance Tehran’s strategic objectives. The force is understood to coordinate closely with Iran’s security ministries and to shuttle between covert action and more overt diplomatic engagement as circumstances require Qassem Soleimani Esmail Qaani IRGC.
Operationally, the Quds Force relies on a model that emphasizes surrogate forces over direct deployments. This structure allows Iran to project power while reducing direct exposure to risk and international scrutiny. Its networks span political movements, militias, and political actors in several theaters, and it emphasizes long-term influence rather than quick, limited raids. The force also engages with international partners and criminal networks when necessary to secure logistics, funding, and arms supplies for its networks Quds Force Hezbollah Kata'ib Hezbollah Hashd al-Shaabi.
Operations and Proxies
Lebanon and Hezbollah: The Quds Force has long supported Hezbollah as a pivotal instrument of Iranian strategy in the Levant. Through training, funding, and arms transfers, the force has helped sustain Hezbollah’s political and military capacity, contributing to the group’s standing in Lebanese politics and its role in regional conflicts. This relationship is central to Iran’s ability to project power toward the eastern Mediterranean and to complicate Israeli security dynamics Lebanon Hezbollah.
Syria: During the civil war in Syria, the Quds Force was deeply involved in efforts to bolster the Assad regime. Its operational footprint included coordinating foreign-backed units, facilitating weapons shipments, and aiding strategic planning to keep the Syrian government in place. The outcome of these efforts has shaped the broader balance of power in the region and the trajectory of the Syrian conflict Syria Bashar al-Assad.
Iraq: In Iraq, the force has worked with Shiite militias and the broader Popular Mobilization Forces to defend Tehran’s interests, counter ISIS remnants, and influence state-building processes in a post-2003 security environment. The Quds Force’s involvement has been a defining factor in the evolution of Iraqi security institutions and in shaping the country’s political landscape. Proxies connected to the force have been central to debates about sovereignty, stability, and the role of external actors in Iraq Iraq Hashd al-Shaabi Kata'ib Hezbollah.
Yemen and the Houthis: The Quds Force has supported the Houthis (Ansar Allah) in Yemen as part of a broader contest with Saudi influence in the region. This support has included military coordination and matériel flows intended to bolster the Houthis’ capacity to challenge opposing regional powers, with potential implications for the security of the Bab al-Mandab strait and the Red Sea corridor Houthis.
Other theaters: Beyond the most visible theaters, the force has pursued influence in other areas where Iran seeks to balance regional rivals, maintain supply lines, and protect its diplomatic and economic interests. This includes engagement with various political actors and militias across the region, and a focus on sustaining relationships that can be leveraged in times of tension with Western powers and regional rivals Iran.
Controversies and Debates
The Quds Force sits at the center of intense controversy. Critics argue that its operations destabilize the region by propping up autocratic regimes, arming militias, and exporting disruptive ideologies through proxies. They contend that Tehran’s external outreach elevates sectarian tensions, complicates aspirations for national sovereignty in several countries, and increases the risk of miscalculation that could draw in major powers. Western governments and many regional rivals have cited these concerns in sanctioning the IRGC and its external operations, arguing that such actions threaten regional peace and the security of international shipping lanes and alliances. The force’s alleged involvement in attacks and campaigns abroad has heightened concerns about the spread of violence and the escalation of proxy conflicts across multiple theaters United States Israel Saudi Arabia Hashd al-Shaabi.
From a strategic and security-focused perspective, defenders of Tehran’s approach argue that the Quds Force provides Iran with a credible means of deterrence and bargaining power. They see it as a legitimate extension of a state’s right to defend its sovereignty, counter external interference, and support allies facing existential pressure. Proponents emphasize that much of Tehran’s external outreach targets ideological and strategic adversaries, and that proxy networks can contribute to regional stability by reshaping power balances in ways that deter aggression against Iranian interests. They also often criticize what they describe as overly moralistic or "woke" critiques that ignore the realities of regional power dynamics, sovereignty, and the need for a credible deterrent in a volatile neighborhood. Supporters argue that a focus on Iran’s internal security and regional influence is a more practical framework for understanding the force’s behavior than abstract moral judgments about external interventions Quds Force Iranian foreign policy.
International status and sanctions: The Quds Force and its parent organization have been subject to Western sanctions and designations intended to curb extraterritorial activity. The United States, among others, has treated IRGC-linked organizations as part of its broader strategy to constrain Iran’s regional influence and deter aggression against Western interests and allies. Sanctions regimes aim to disrupt funding, logistics, and operational capacity, though supporters of the regime argue that sanctions simply harden Tehran’s resolve and reinforce the necessity of self-reliance through diverse networks. The legal and diplomatic debate surrounding these measures reflects broader questions about how best to manage a regional rival with substantial endurance and organizational reach IRGC Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Sanctions and Legal Status
- The United States has subjected the IRGC and related units to extensive sanctions, reflecting the view that external operations violate international norms and threaten regional security. Other Western partners have followed with targeted measures aimed at restricting funding and material support for external actions. These moves underscore a consensus that the Quds Force operates in a gray zone where state security goals intersect with non-state proxies, and where attribution of responsibility for specific acts can be contested in multinational forums Quds Force.