Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Establishes Strike Teams in Tehran Neighborhoods
Mohammad Yazdi, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Mohammad Rasoulollah base in Tehran, stated that using the capacity of Basij bases, “strike teams” have been established in various Tehran neighborhoods to implement the “neighborhood-centered security” plan.
According to a report on Monday, September 15 by IRNA news agency, he described the purpose of forming these strike teams as “combating theft and pickpocketing” and “ruffians and vagrants” in neighborhoods.
Combating crimes in neighborhoods is officially the responsibility of the police force according to law, but in recent years, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders have announced their entry into this domain under the pretext of assisting the police.
In the first attempt to launch this type of patrol, in April 2008, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the launch of five-person security patrols in one thousand points across urban neighborhoods nationwide. This initial plan was expanded in subsequent years, and in December 2017, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it would launch neighborhood patrols nationwide under the “Epic of Security and Service” plan.
In recent years, these patrols have also been referred to as “Basij Rezavian Patrols,” but it is the first time that these patrols are being described as operating under the framework of “strike teams.”
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders initially justified the formation of Basij patrols in neighborhoods by citing “misconduct by American elements and insecurity in cities,” but in subsequent statements, they referred to ensuring Tehran’s security and combating crimes as the purpose of these patrols.
Before launching strike team patrols in neighborhoods, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had announced its security and protective presence in various neighborhoods through the establishment of inspection checkpoints.
To date, the number of neighborhood patrols and strike teams formed in Tehran and other Iranian cities has not been announced.
Source: Radio Farda
