Iran's IRGC Commander Reveals Limited Military Resources Used in Israel Strikes

Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Division, has revealed that Iran only utilized 20% of its available military resources in the retaliatory airstrikes against Israel last month.

The operation, dubbed "Operation True Promise," was launched on April 13 in response to Israel's aggression on Iranian diplomatic premises in Damascus on April 1, which resulted in the deaths of two IRGC generals and five accompanying officers.

Why this matters: The revelation highlights the significant military capabilities Iran possesses, which could potentially be used in future conflicts, and emphasizes the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, raising concerns about the threat of war in the region.

In an interview on Wednesday, Hajizadeh stated, "Israel mobilized all its military resources to counter Iran's attacks while the US also deployed its aircraft, cruisers, and aircraft carriers in support of Israel." Despite Iran's limited use of its military capabilities, the United States, Britain, and France supported Israel in an attempt to repel the attacks.

The IRGC general emphasized that there are many untold points about the operation, which exposed only a small fraction of Iran's military prowess. When asked how many ballistic missiles Iran fired towards Israel, Brigadier General Ali Belali responded with a smirk, "You have to ask the Israelis."

Hajizadeh attributed the success of the operation to the "unwavering determination of Iranian forces and the wise guidelines of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei." The multi-pronged attack involved firing hundreds of drones and missiles at occupied territories.

The IRGC showcased its air and space capabilities at an exhibit in western Tehran, featuring the long and medium-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones used in the strikes. The exhibit included the Ghadr and Emad ballistic missiles, which have a range of over 1,000 miles and can carry warheads between 450 and 500 kilograms. The Kheybar missile, also used in the strikes, carries a warhead of about 320 kilograms.

Belali emphasized the significance of Iran's drones and missiles, stating, "Today, our drones and missiles have become an important factor of strength and the execution of power in the world." Iran's ballistic missiles have long been a cause for concern for the US and its allies in the Middle East, with the US considering Iran's missile arsenal as one of its primary tools of coercion and force projection.

Despite the US and its partners intercepting around 99% of the projectiles in the April 13 attack, Iranian leaders are studying the operation to learn lessons and understand how to defeat US and partner air defenses in the future.

IRGC Commander Maj Gen Hossein Salami stated, "We could have launched two or three additional waves of drones and missiles against Israel, and each successive wave would have reduced the efficacy of US and partner air defenses."

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei praised senior military commanders for their role in the attack, emphasizing that "the willpower of the Iranian nation and armed forces matters more than how many munitions Iran launched or how many munitions hit their target." The conflict between Iran and Israel has been escalating, with both sides engaging in retaliatory strikes, raising concerns about the threat of war in the region.

Hajizadeh's statement is consistent with Iran's new policy of targeting Israel directly in retaliation for Israeli attacks on Iranian interests. It suggests that Iran has significant military capabilities that were not utilized in the attack and that it is prepared to use them if necessary. The US and its allies have called for curbs on Iran's missile program to be part of any deal that Washington strikes with Tehran.

Key Takeaways

• Iran used only 20% of its military resources in retaliatory airstrikes against Israel.
• The operation, "True Promise", involved firing hundreds of drones and missiles at occupied territories.
• Iran's ballistic missiles have a range of over 1,000 miles and can carry warheads between 450-500 kg.
• Iran is studying the operation to learn how to defeat US and partner air defenses in the future.
• Iran has significant military capabilities that were not utilized in the attack and is prepared to use them if necessary.