Free Republic

While the Revolutionary Guards are unconditionally loyal to the Supreme Leader, the Artesh, Iran's regular army, has historically viewed itself as the defender of the Iranian nation. As the drums of war beat louder across the Middle East, a quiet but seismic shift is occurring within the Islamic Republic’s military apparatus. Recent intelligence indicates that in the months leading up to the current escalation, desertion rates among Iran’s regular army-the Artesh-hit a staggering 14% in key western border units. For Western and Israeli war planners, it is easy to view this simply as a symptom of a crumbling regime. However,...

It’s a tale of two Iran armies. One, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is stacked with fierce loyalists and designed to guard the theocratic regime, with a force estimated to be 150,000 strong. They have been targeted in US and Israel attacks. The other is the conventional Islamic Republic of Iran Army, called the Artesh, which numbers 350,000 and is designed to protect the nation’s borders and secure the Iranian homeland. And when the bombing stops, they might serve US interests as a force for change. Now all they have to do is survive. President Trump has alluded to the...

COORDINATION CENTER FOR NATIONAL IRANIAN ARMED RESISTANCE FORCES DECLARES ITS EXISTENCE. This announcement was received via telephone from a high ranking Army officer of NIRU from Iran Start of announcement Saturday December 26th, 2009 In the name of God the Merciful & Forgiving Praise be to God and peace on the His Messenger (PBUH) and his family I take refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan The coordination center for National Iranian Armed Resistance Forces (NIRU) hereby declares its existence & accuses the current government and the leader of the Islamic Revolution, Mr. Sayyed Ali Khamenei of legal transgressions and...