Iran’s Quds Force Explained: The IRGC’s Much-Needed External Support

Last Updated:March 18, 2026, 19:42 IST

Iran's Quds Force: Its primary mission is to support non-state actors and "Islamic liberation movements" abroad.

The Quds Force (meaning “Jerusalem Force") is the elite external operations wing of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It specialises in unconventional warfare, military intelligence, and clandestine operations outside of Iran to project the country’s regional influence.

ALl you need to know.

Quds Force: The role

The primary mission of the Quds Force is to support non-state actors and “Islamic liberation movements" abroad.

Axis of Resistance: The force trains, funds, and directs a network of proxy groups known as the “Axis of Resistance", including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza, the Houthis in Yemen, and various Shia militias in Iraq and Syria.

It reports directly to the Supreme Leader of Iran rather than the Iranian president or traditional military hierarchy, according to reports.

Who heads the Quds Force?

Qasem Soleimani: The most famous commander of the Quds Force, who led the unit from 1998 until his assassination by a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020.

Esmail Qaani: The current commander who succeeded Soleimani. Recent reports indicate significant instability in his status, with unconfirmed claims of detention or injury following intensified Israeli strikes on IRGC infrastructure.

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Quds Force and US-Israel-Iran war

The Quds Force has been a primary target of Israel’s ‘Operation Rising Lion’. In March 2026, Israeli strikes reportedly destroyed the Quds Force headquarters in Tehran and targeted its command centres, according to Al Jazeera and media reports.

The force has suffered major setbacks following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria in late 2024, which removed a critical regional ally and supply hub.

The unit is designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States, Canada, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the European Union (the latter added in 2026 due to the IRGC’s role in suppressing domestic protests).

Quds Force: Organisation and scale

Estimates of its active personnel vary widely, ranging from 5,000 to over 20,000 members, often organised into regionally aligned brigades.

It operates several covert subdivisions, such as Unit 840, which is allegedly responsible for global assassination plots and targeting dissidents in Europe and Latin America, according to reports.

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KEY FAQs

What is the Quds Force?

The Quds Force is a special operations unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran.

It is responsible for military, intelligence, and covert operations outside Iran’s borders.

What does the name ‘Quds’ mean?

‘Quds’ is the Arabic word for Jerusalem, referring to Jerusalem. The name reflects the group’s ideological and political goals in the Middle East.

Who led the Quds Force?

For many years, it was commanded by Qasem Soleimani until he was killed in the Baghdad International Airport airstrike. After his death, leadership was passed to Esmail Qaani.

With agency inputs

News explainers Iran’s Quds Force Explained: The IRGC’s Much-Needed External Support

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