Understanding the Basij and the Significance of the Reported Strikes in Iran (opens in new tab)

The Basij, formally known as “Basij-e Mostazafin” (Mobilization of the Oppressed), is one of the most distinctive pillars of Iran’s internal power structure. Created in the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, it operates under the umbrella of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and ultimately answers directly to the Supreme Leader. What makes the Basij unusual is that it is not just a military or security force in the traditional sense—it is embedded deeply within society itsel...