LIVE
Conflict Pulse
· · VERIFIED SOURCES
All RegionsUkraine–RussiaIsrael–PalestineUnited StatesSudan / DarfurMyanmarEthiopia / TigrayLebanonVenezuelaIran
Jerusalem Post — Iran News
rightREPORT

Iran's Revolutionary Guards set up covert Iraqi cells to attack Gulf neighbors, sources say

Iran's Revolutionary Guards set up covert Iraqi cells to attack Gulf neighbors, sources say
NEWS SUMMARY
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has established secretive new cells in Iraq, comprising approximately 10 elite Iraqi Shi'ite fighters each, to conduct drone attacks against Gulf nations hosting U.S. forces. These cells, operating outside established militia networks and reporting directly to the IRGC, launched at least seven drone attacks between April 20 and May 17, reflecting a shift in Iranian tactics to project force amid depleted resources and diminished proxy groups.
Full BriefGenerated 67d ago
What Happened
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has established three or four covert cells in Iraq, each comprising about 10 elite Iraqi Shi'ite Muslim fighters, to conduct drone attacks on U.S.-hosting Gulf states, according to eight Iraqi sources including military officials and militia commanders. The cells, operating under direct IRGC command and bypassing established militia networks, launched at least seven drone attacks from desert locations near Basra and Samawa between April 20 and May 17 against sites in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Targets included Kuwait's Ali Al Salem Air Base and a military terminal at its international airport; attacks aimed at Saudi Arabia and the UAE were intercepted. The shift reflects IRGC adaptation to preserve force projection as its traditional proxy networks weaken under U.S. pressure and economic strain, and as major Iraqi Shi'ite factions signal readiness to disarm. The cells draw some members from the Islamic Resistance in Iraq umbrella group but operate outside its command, giving Iran plausible deniability.
Key Actors
  • ·
    IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps)(Iranian military force overseeing external operations)Established and directly controls the new covert Iraqi cells to attack Gulf neighbors hosting U.S. forces.
  • ·
    New IRGC-controlled Iraqi cells(Elite Iraqi Shi'ite militant units under direct IRGC command)Carried out at least seven drone attacks on Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and UAE between April 20 and May 17, 2024.
  • ·
    Islamic Resistance in Iraq(Umbrella group of hardline Shi'ite militias)Source of some fighters for the new cells, but the cells operate outside its command structure.
  • ·
    Ali al-Zaidi(Prime Minister of Iraq)Committed to complete disarmament of all armed groups outside state control and preventing use of Iraqi territory for regional threats.
Why It Matters
The IRGC's creation of compact, directly controlled cells signals a tactical shift to sustain Iran's regional strike capability while its larger proxy network erodes under U.S. military pressure and internal Iraqi disarmament moves. The attacks target U.S. assets in Gulf states, heightening risks of escalation just as an interim U.S.-Iran deal pauses direct hostilities but explicitly excludes proxy activity. The operation tests Iraq's sovereignty and Prime Minister al-Zaidi's pledge to dismantle non-state armed groups, placing Baghdad between Washington's demands and Tehran's covert maneuvers.
Watch For
Monitor whether Iraqi security forces uncover and dismantle the cells, and whether further drone attacks emerge from southern Iraq. Watch U.S. and Gulf responses, including potential strikes or diplomatic pressure on Baghdad. The interim U.S.-Iran deal's implementation and any negotiations that address proxy networks will be critical. Also, verify Reuters' accounts through independent confirmation of the reported attacks and cell structures.
Generated 67d ago · Based on full article
Auto-Compiled
This page aggregates and summarizes reporting from Jerusalem Post — Iran News. The Conflict Pulse does not author original reporting. Read the original source for full coverage.
READ ORIGINAL

Iran

Latest verified updates on Iran’s regional confrontation, U.S.–Israeli strikes, missile retaliation, proxy networks, sanctions, and Strait of Hormuz risks.

How outlets across the bias spectrum are covering this conflict.

VIEW ALL IRAN COVERAGE →