The Basij is an Iranian paramilitary militia under Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command. Founded by Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979, it became a mass infantry force during the Iran-Iraq War and later developed into a principal instrument of domestic control.

The Basij combines wartime mobilisation with street-level enforcement when regular police lack capacity. The organisation has been used against major protest movements, including the 2009 Green Movement, the November 2019 uprising and the 2022 protests after Mahsa Amini's death.

The Basij operates through 31 provincial commands under Iran's decentralised defence structure. Its loyalty remains politically important because it links the IRGC's Central Command to local enforcement networks. The loss of its intelligence deputy in March 2026 showed that this layer can also become a direct wartime target.

Key Issues

Command losses

Basij lost its local command layer

On 22 March, Israeli strikes killed approximately 300 Basij field commanders. The losses came alongside the deaths of senior IRGC figures and struck the militia's local command layer.

For the Basij, field commanders matter because local enforcement relies on personal intelligence networks and neighbourhood-level authority. On 22 March, the killing of intelligence deputy Esmail Ahmadi further reduced its ability to collect and relay information. Replacements can fill posts, but they do not automatically inherit the relationships that support domestic coercion and wartime enforcement.

Common Questions

Reference

What is the Basij and what does it do in Iran?

The Basij is Iran's IRGC-controlled paramilitary militia, used for domestic protest suppression, wartime enforcement, and as a street-level coercion force. It suppressed the 2009 Green Movement, the 2019 November uprising, and the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests.Source: Wikipedia / IRGC doctrine

Did the Basij protest against Iran's ceasefire deal?

Yes. Basij militia members marched on Iran's Foreign Ministry in the early hours of 15 June 2026 to oppose the Ceasefire deal, with IRGC-affiliated channels broadcasting crowds chanting against Foreign Minister Araghchi.Source: event

How many Basij commanders were killed by Israel in 2026?

Approximately 300 Basij field commanders were killed in a single week of Israeli strikes in March 2026, including six-year commander Gholamreza Soleimani and intelligence deputy Esmail Ahmadi.Source: event

What is the Basij's role in Iran's succession after Khamenei?

The Basij and IRGC provide the loyalty base that keeps Mojtaba Khamenei in power; analysts assess that the Guards control him rather than answer to him. Degrading the Basij threatens the security architecture that installed him.Source: event

Why is the Basij important to Iran's new Supreme Leader?

Mojtaba Khamenei's power base rests on Basij and IRGC loyalty, not clerical standing. If the Basij cannot maintain domestic order, the security architecture that installed him collapses.Source: Jerusalem Post / MEI

What protests has the Basij suppressed?

The Basij suppressed the 2009 Green Movement, the 2019 November uprising and the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests, where Independent monitors recorded deaths at three to four times official figures.

Is the Basij part of the IRGC?

The Basij operates as a subordinate force within the IRGC, reporting to IRGC Ground Forces. It has been restructured into 31 autonomous provincial commands.

Source Material

Iran — International Crisis Group Reuters Middle East coverage — Iran Basij