5 hours agoWhat is the Iranian Basij, internal security force whose commander was killed?
The Iranian Basij, a volunteer paramilitary force, was founded by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1979 as a “twenty-million-man army” to defend the Islamic Republic, according to the federally funded United States Institute of Peace.
The force consists of three main armed branches that defend neighborhoods and handle security threats, and multiple other branches specializing as counterweights to non-governmental organizations in different parts of society, including the Student Basij, Labor Basij and Guild Basij.
The force is frequently accused of manipulating elections, acting on behalf of the Supreme Leader and conservative factions.
The Basij is instrumental in suppressing domestic dissent in Iran, having previously cracked down on the 1999 student protests and the 2009 Green Movement.
The Israeli military has called the Basij an “armed apparatus of the Iranian terror regime” that led the main repression operation during recent protests in Iran, “employing severe violence, widespread arrests and the use of force against civilian demonstrators.”
The force also acts as a tool to police morals in Iran, enforcing Islamic dress codes and social behaviors, particularly targeting women and youth.
Men, women and even children as young as 12 years old have previously volunteered in the force. In recent years, however, it is believed most members are between high school age and their mid-30s.
In 2008, the Basij was formally integrated into the IRGC Ground Forces to improve its command and control.
The force has sometimes faced internal struggles as some local Basij members were reportedly reluctant to use violence against their own neighbors, forcing the regime to bus in members from other regions, according to the United States Institute of Peace.
The Basij was under the command of Gen. Gholamreza Soleimani, who Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed was killed in overnight strikes on Tuesday.
Killing Soleimani would likely further strain the command and control of the Basij, which would be crucial in putting down any uprising against the theocracy.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.