Alberto Guerrero Martín, author at Ejercitos Magazine

Test of an Iranian Fateh-110 missile. Source - IRNA

Iran versus Israel and the United States

24/12/2023

Iran's military doctrine is based on principles of asymmetric warfare and is supported by the strategic depth provided by its extensive and mountainous territory. Its approach seeks to avoid direct confrontation with its adversaries, opting for deterrent strategies that allow it to stay below the threshold of war. Likewise, its traditional defensive doctrine seems to be evolving towards a more offensive posture. Aware of its conventional military weaknesses, it has prioritized the development of ballistic missiles and drones. Furthermore, it seeks regional hegemony by relying on its extensive network of proxies. (Continue…) Dear reader, this article is exclusively for paying users. If you want to access the full text, you can subscribe to Ejercitos Magazine taking advantage of our offer for new subscribers through the following link.

The arms race between Morocco and Algeria

25/07/2022

Between Morocco and Algeria there is an important strategic competition that requires analysis. As is well known, the arms race is a “fundamental variable in international strategic stability that serves as a possible predictor of armed conflicts between countries” (Colom, Pulido and Gulamó, 2021, p. 19). The relationship between the arms race and war is an important question within strategic studies that has yet to be resolved, since the increase in military expenditures to obtain an advantage over an adversary is not something new (Gibler, Rider and Hutchinson, 2005, p. 132). It is evident that there is an arms race between Morocco and Algeria that responds to a series of reasons that will be seen throughout this work. However, first it will be necessary to specify the concept and for this the explanations given by Barry Buzan in the [Keep reading…]

The Quds Force

06/01/2022

Within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard of Iran (IRGC) there is an elite unit called the Quds Force – Quds means Jerusalem in Arabic, the city they intend to liberate –, created in 1990 to carry out covert operations abroad, where it provides support to Shiite groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, undoubtedly its most important and oldest ally. Its support for the Hamas guerrillas in Palestine, the Houthi militias in Yemen, in addition to its presence in Syria is also recognized, since this country was the first to recognize the ayatollah regime. But also to the Taliban and al-Qaeda or the Shiite militias in Iraq and the Sudanese regime at the time (Ottolenghi, 2011, p. III). And the Quds Force controls or has controlled many of the training camps intended for unconventional warfare and to train [Keep reading…]

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard

09/08/2021

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran (IRGC) has its origins in the Iranian Revolution of 1979, and today it is one of the most important elements of the defense system of the ayatollah regime. When this revolution ended the regime of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the creation of an elite force to defend the political and religious system of the new Islamic republic became necessary to prevent any attempted coup d'état. Thus, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini ordered the creation of this important elite force - also known as pasdaran -, originating from the popular militias that supported him, which today has achieved immense political and military power, but has also become a economic conglomerate of utmost importance in the country. (Continue…) Dear reader, this article is exclusively for paying users. If you want to access the [Keep reading…]