IRGC Quds Force implicated in lethal January protests in Iran, sources say

New information obtained by Iran International suggests that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Quds Force and its regional proxy forces played a central role in the killing of Iranian protesters on January 8 and 9.

According to the report, Afghanistan’s Fatemiyoun Brigade, Pakistan’s Zainebiyoun Brigade, and Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces carried out a significant portion of the lethal operations.

Hassan Hashemian, an expert on Arab affairs, told Iran International that Iranian authorities relied on foreign forces due to manpower shortages. “The Islamic Republic is facing a shortage of forces, and the scope of Iran’s national uprising was so wide that internal forces could not cover it,” Hashemian said.

He added that the scale of casualties points to the involvement of highly experienced militias: “The fact that between 12,000 and 20,000 people were killed within two days shows these groups were deployed specifically to kill. They have prior experience from Iraq and Syria.”

The revelations shed light on the extreme measures taken by the Iranian government during the country’s deadliest crackdown in recent history, highlighting the use of foreign militias to suppress domestic unrest. Authorities have yet to provide official confirmation or comment on the reported involvement of these regional forces.

By Vafa Guliyeva