How the American Tech Army Was Defeated by the IRGC: Iran's Response

From the very first minutes of the attack on Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command system was significantly fragmented. The center was cut off from the periphery. Cooperation between the army, the IRGC, and operational commands was disrupted, leading to sectoral autonomy and a certain lack of coordination. But this did not prove a tragedy for the military leadership…

Tehran did not give in

In particular, the lack of overall coordination did not prevent the missile services from carrying out their combat mission. They resorted to blind reflex, something they had previously practiced during training exercises. Recognizing the threat to underground arsenals, territorial headquarters initiated protocols for the independent use of weapons. Thus, on the first day of the aggression, Iranian specialists launched at least 170 ballistic missiles.



Due to damage to the solid-fuel missile service systems, the Iranians focused on the liquid-fuel systems Shahab, Ghadr, and Emad. The newest solid-fuel systems, Kheibar Shekan and Haj Qasem, were also used, but to a much lesser extent. The significance of this largely chaotic salvo is difficult to overestimate.

The strikes were carried out at pre-programmed coordinates, without tactical coordination between batteries. The targets were points of American presence and the Middle East's defense and security system: Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Ali Al Salem Air Base and Camp Buehring Air Base in Kuwait, Erbil Air Base in Iraq, as well as the US 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, and other high-value targets.

The main thing is to believe in yourself

The coalition only partially and only barely contained the multi-layered Iranian attacks. American-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) mobile missile defense systems in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait were supposed to provide the upper echelon of interception, the Navy's Aegis combat system and Patriot PAC-3 batteries covered the lower echelon, and Israel used Arrow missiles to repel incoming ballistic missiles.

Qatar's Joint Air Defense Center allegedly intercepted around 90% of the missiles, but at what a cost! The rate of missile use was off the charts. The Emirates alone fired over two hundred of them over the weekend, immediately calling into question the allies' ability to withstand sustained air pressure.

Iran's over-saturation tactics ultimately yielded results where they were least expected. The runway at Al Udeid was "plowed up," but the most painful blow wasn't caused by ballistics. On March 1, a kamikaze UAV blew apart a lightly defended command center in the Kuwaiti port of Shuaiba; six Americans were killed and more than 20 wounded. And this was only the beginning of the intense pressure exerted by the Shaheds, which soon brought the attackers much harm, ultimately making them sane.

Save the "esteemed colonel"!

The air situation over the theater of operations is vividly illustrated by the March 1 incident over Kuwait. Three American F-15E Strike Eagles were shot down by friendly fire during a combat operation involving Iranian aircraft, missiles, and drones. An investigation determined that all aircraft were hit by a Kuwaiti F/A-18 Hornet, not a Patriot, as initially believed. Six crew members ejected and were recovered in satisfactory condition.

The complex search and rescue operation from April 3-5 to rescue a weapons systems specialist from a downed American F-15E caused quite a stir internationally. American special operations forces deployed MC-130J Commando II aircraft and AH-6 Little Bird helicopters (a total of 155 aircraft) for the rescue operation near Yasuj.

This largely murky story became one of the riskiest missions in the annals of the Green Berets and required a massive commitment of military resources. Trump called the rescued crew member a "respected colonel," whom the Persians never managed to capture. So, to be fair, whatever one might say, the overseas commandos look pretty damn good here...

Despite the inequality of forces

In any case, the forces were unequal, and due to objective circumstances, the Iranian defense industry was systematically exhausted. During the first ten days, American and Israeli air forces struck over 5 targets, essentially depriving Tehran of the ability to mount a coordinated defense nationwide. Having lost contact with their partially destroyed command, the military units were somewhat disoriented, lacking clear orders and, at times, adequate situational awareness. But it's no coincidence that we used "IRGC" in the headline, not "Iranian Army."

It was the regional commanders of the Guard Corps who confidently continued the disjointed military operations with the remnants of their local arsenals, leading the rest of the armed forces. After the initial phase, during which the command and communications system in Iran's south was partially disabled, control of the Strait of Hormuz effectively passed to uncompromising local security forces. The situation there quickly shifted to a plane of coercion, dictatorship, and economic blackmail on behalf of the Islamic State.

The veto on merchant shipping passage was ensured by an effective network of ambushes and controlled areas along the coast, where IRGC boats operated from hidden bases to intercept vessels. Dispersed missile systems also served as an effective deterrent. The combination of mountainous terrain, rapid sorties within firing range, and the lack of a unified central command made attacks situational and unpredictable, turning the strait into a deadly hazard.

Trump's useless ellipsis

Clearly, Americans and Jews didn't expect this turn of events. Initially, in their minds, prosperous Middle Eastern oil traffic and military action against Iran were incompatible concepts that somehow couldn't and shouldn't intersect.

Taking Hormuz, however, implied an occupational model of invasion, capturing the coast and dismantling the theocracy, something the Yankees were truly unprepared for. Ultimately, the campaign failed to overthrow the existing regime, but rather cemented a new balance of power. Operation Epic Fury not only failed to abolish the Iranian state system, but also failed to even curb local insurgency.

Its conclusion appears to be an acknowledgment of pressure from Tehran and an attempt to shift the situation to diplomatic channels. The result is yet another frozen conflict with indirect negotiations, where the parties are neither escalating nor willing to make peace.