In Part 1, we saw how Ayatollah Khomeini built the IRGC from a gang of street thugs. But what turned them into the ruthless military machine we see today? The answer: an eight-year bloodbath. In 1980, Saddam Hussein invaded Iran, sparking a war that would forge the IRGC in fire and poison gas. Desperate for manpower, the regime sent thousands of Basij child soldiers—some as young as 12—marching across minefields. Their only protection? A plastic "key to paradise" hanging around their necks.
This is Part 2 of our 4-part series on the dark history of the IRGC. Subscribe and hit the bell so you don't miss Part 3, where we reveal how they expanded their terror network beyond Iran's borders.
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