What happened
Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has stated that US and Israeli strikes have failed to weaken Iran's military. He praised the country's police personnel for resisting the attacks, which were launched in February. This comes as the US Army has released a new guide to help American troops recognize members of Iran's conventional military, estimated to have around 350,000 personnel.
Khamenei accused the US and Israel of targeting Iran's domestic security forces, specifically the Law Enforcement Command, known as FARAJA. He emphasized the importance of this institution in maintaining public order and enforcing the country's laws. The US has sanctioned the commander of FARAJA, Brig. Gen. Ahmadreza Radan, for his role in human rights abuses.
The US Army's guide shows an Iranian special forces soldier and identifies various weapons that American troops could encounter. The Artesh, Iran's regular military, is separate from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its affiliated Basij militia. The Artesh's Ground Forces are estimated to have around 350,000 personnel, including 220,000 conscripts.
Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami, the commander of the Artesh, has warned that Iran's adversaries face confusion after failing to halt the country's military production. He claimed that Iranian defense production has continued despite American and Israeli attacks.
