Iranian armed forces going AWOL

Sources cited on Thursday by the Iran International news service reported on the crisis within the Iranian army. According to these sources, the IRGC has refused to assist wounded soldiers and is keeping for itself the dwindling stock of essential medical supplies. The Iranian army is suffering significant losses, while the IRGC refuses to transport wounded soldiers to hospitals.

Soldiers of the regular army are reportedly receiving only minimal supplies of ammunition, food, and drinking water. One source described absurd cases in which 20 rounds of ammunition were issued to share by two soldiers. The army is being discriminated against compared to the IRGC, resulting in mass desertions. Units are allegedly abandoning their bases and seeking refuge in nearby cities.

Apparently, the crisis is not limited to the regular armed forces. Sources report failures in communication equipment, as well as shortages of food and other basic supplies among IRGC missile units—forces generally considered to be the best equipped in the Iranian military.

Iran International is a Persian-language satellite television channel and multilingual digital news operation based in London, United Kingdom. It is reportedly linked to Saudi Arabia and covers topics sensitive to the Iranian government. If the sources are to be believed, Iran is facing a supply crisis at a relatively early stage. The internal situation of the country depends heavily on the condition of its uniformed services. Should these forces collapse or rebel against the authorities, the result could be an escalation of anti-government protests—this time without anyone left to suppress them by force.