A senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has admitted that military leaders assumed Israel would not target women and children, allowing commanders to stay at home with their families during the conflict. The revelation, made by IRGC Aerospace Force Commander Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh in a statement, has been interpreted as an implicit confession of using families as human shields. Hajizadeh emphasized that commanders are “calculated people and not cowards,” but the implication suggests they relied on the presence of civilians to deter Israeli strikes.
The comment comes amid reports of Israeli airstrikes targeting IRGC leadership, including the deaths of IRGC chief Hossein Salami and Hajizadeh himself in June 2025 Israeli operations. Iranian officials have warned of retaliation, but the admission highlights a tactical vulnerability exploited by Israel, which has accused Iran of endangering its own population. The IRGC’s strategy, if confirmed, fits a pattern of using civilians to shield military assets, drawing international condemnation.
This disclosure, amid Iran’s ongoing threats against Israel, raises ethical questions about military tactics in the region. For the civilians caught in these shadows, our prayers are with them—may protection and peace shield the innocent from such calculated dangers.
