Units and Militias The Quds Force is made up of units operating in particular in the Syrian theater. They operate in complete secrecy and are never mentioned in official media from the authorities in Tehran. Thanks to Syrian opposition sources, the presence of some of them on the ground in Syria has been confirmed, as have some of their activities. Local testimony from digital sources (e.g., social networks, armed factions’ channels, disaffected militants’ channels, and local press) allows the presence of IRGC units to be established through a long process of cross-checking, without the author claiming that the following list is complete:
IRGC, Quds Force, Unit 400 Identified activities: Transport and logistics • Led by Abdallahi Hamed, the unit is mentioned in connection with arms transfers on the Iraq-Syria axis under the guise of humanitarian aid convoys.
IRGC, Quds Force, Unit 190 Identified activities: Financing • Led by Behnam Shahriyari, the unit is involved in oil smuggling and money laundering.
IRGC, Unit 1500 Known activities: Counterintelligence • Led by Ruhollah Bazquandi, the unit is cited in cases of neutralization of Iranian opponents or Israeli interests (in Turkey).