Iran's Revolutionary Guard: A Powerful Force Under Scrutiny Amid Regional Turmoil

• Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, answering only to its supreme leader, oversees ballistic missiles and conducts overseas attacks.
• The Guard, formed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, grew powerful during the Iran-Iraq War and expanded into private enterprises.
• Its Quds Force created Iran's "Axis of Resistance," backing groups like Hezbollah, Houthi rebels, and supporting Syria's former President Bashar Assad.
• The Guard operates intelligence services, arresting dual nationals on espionage charges, and is involved in extensive smuggling.
• Recent events, including the Israel-Hamas war and the fall of Assad's government, have challenged the Guard's regional influence.