Threat Actor Profile - Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Threat Actor: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
Date of Activity: 1979 - Present
Area of Operations: Primarily in Iran, but with international operations and support for proxies throughout the Middle East.
Overview: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is a branch of the Iranian Armed Forces founded after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The IRGC is responsible for a wide range of activities, including internal security, counterintelligence, and support for Iranian proxies and allied groups in the region. The IRGC is also heavily involved in Iran's nuclear and missile programs and has been designated a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States.
TTPs: The IRGC employs a range of tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) in its operations, including terrorist attacks, sabotage, cyberattacks, and proxy warfare. The group has been linked to numerous high-profile attacks, including the 1994 bombing of a Jewish cultural center in Argentina and the 2019 drone attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities. The IRGC also maintains a significant cyber warfare capability and has been linked to numerous cyberattacks, including the 2012 attack on Saudi Aramco.
Recent Activity: In recent years, the IRGC has been heavily involved in supporting the Syrian government in its civil war, as well as providing support to Houthi rebels in Yemen. The group has also been linked to attacks on oil tankers in the Persian Gulf and to the downing of a U.S. drone in June 2019.
Group Identifiers: The IRGC is known by a range of aliases, including the Pasdaran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the Revolutionary Guards.
Analytical Assessment: The IRGC is a highly capable and dangerous threat actor with a long history of aggressive and provocative actions. The group's support for proxies and allied groups in the Middle East has helped to destabilize the region and fuel ongoing conflicts. The IRGC's significant cyber warfare capabilities make it a particularly potent threat, and its involvement in terrorist attacks has resulted in the loss of numerous civilian lives. The IRGC's continued support for hostile actions against Western interests and its development of nuclear and missile capabilities make it a major concern for international security.
