The Revolutionary Guards form strike teams in Tehran neighborhoods

Mohammad Yazdi, commander of the Mohammad Rasoolullah IRGC in Tehran, has said that using the capacity of Basij bases, "strike teams" have been formed in various neighborhoods of Tehran to implement the "neighborhood-based security" plan.

According to a report by Borna News Agency on Monday, September 14, he stated that the purpose of forming these task forces was to "combat theft and pickpocketing" and "thugs and thugs" in neighborhoods.

According to the law, combating crime in neighborhoods is the responsibility of the police, but in recent years, IRGC commanders have announced their entry into this area, claiming to assist the police.

In the first round of efforts to launch these types of patrols, in May 2008, the IRGC announced the launch of five-person security patrols in 1,000 urban neighborhoods across the country. This initial plan was expanded in subsequent years, and in December 2017, the IRGC announced that it would launch neighborhood patrols across the country as part of the “Epic of Security and Service” plan.

In recent years, these patrols have also been referred to as "Rezayoun Basij Patrols," but this is the first time that these patrols are said to operate in the form of a "strike team."

The commanders of the Revolutionary Guard initially cited "the evils of American elements and insecurity in the cities" as justification for the formation of Basij patrols in neighborhoods, but in subsequent statements they cited ensuring the security of Tehran and combating crime as the goals of these patrols.

Before launching raid patrols in neighborhoods, the Revolutionary Guards announced their security and protective presence in various neighborhoods by setting up checkpoints.

The number of neighborhood patrols and task forces formed in Tehran and other cities in Iran has not yet been announced.

Source: Radio Farda