Saber Rattling by the IRGC Ground Forces with Artillery and Missile Units

Column marching is one of the strengths of the IRGC Ground Forces, typically carried out for various objectives, which this report elaborates on.

News ID: 86557

Date: 11 August 2025 - 11:04

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Given the complex events of recent months, the special conditions of the region, and the extensive activities of the enemies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, it seems essential to consider enhancing the combat readiness of military and security forces.

Accordingly, the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the Islamic Republic of Iran Army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), conduct numerous military exercises across the country every year, many examples of which we witnessed last year.

The IRGC Ground Forces also hold multiple official and unofficial annual exercises, which are seriously pursued and executed at the unit level. For instance, exercises are conducted at the brigade level for special forces, infantry, armored units, and artillery to assess the combat readiness of these units.

Special units of the IRGC Ground Forces, such as the Mirza Kochak Khan Brigade and the Saberin Special Forces Brigade, conduct their annual exercises both independently and in coordination with other forces to enhance their combat preparedness.

One of the fundamental actions of the IRGC Ground Forces in various exercises is the operational column marching of military equipment and hardware, primarily focusing on armored and artillery systems, which is rigorously carried out every year in every exercise.

Column marching is typically conducted for the following purposes:

a. Enhancing the combat capability of forces in tactical relocations.
b. Synergizing forces to transfer strategic equipment to operational zones (hypothetical conflict areas).
c. Strengthening key positions during war or hypothetical exercises.
d. Conducting surprise attacks, assuming the availability of essential resources and strategic military equipment in the conflict zone, such as armored and artillery systems.

Following the Zionist regime’s imposed war against the Islamic Republic of Iran and the possibility of the conflict escalating into a full-scale ground war, the transfer of equipment and column marching of forces has gained even greater importance. For example, the column marching of the IRGC Ground Forces’ armored and artillery units in the East (Taybad), Northwest (Aras), and West (The Great Prophet (PBUH) 19 – Kermanshah) exercises are instances carried out in the past year to expand combat readiness.

Military analysts believe that the IRGC Ground Forces possess significant expertise in executing military column marches, enabling them to demonstrate their offensive power to enemies. Given the current regional conditions and the enemy’s new plans to destabilize the region, the IRGC Ground Forces must prioritize enhancing their combat readiness more than ever, and conducting tactical exercises will be effective in this regard.

The IRGC Ground Forces have not hesitated in their efforts to upgrade infantry and armored units, implementing useful measures in this field. Depending on the tactical nature and terrain of the region, they adapt their exercise strategies to improve combat readiness.

Brigadier General Sefidchian, senior advisor to the commander of the IRGC Ground Forces, remarked on monitoring enemy movements and tactics, stating: "Depending on the tactics adopted by the enemy, the format of our exercises will also change."