Notable Military Operations and Achievements
One of the most significant yet lesser-known operations that Bagheri was involved in was the 1998 IRGC incursion into Iraq to suppress Kurdish separatist groups like the Komala Party and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). The operation was led by Ahmad Kazemi but approved and coordinated at the highest levels, including by Bagheri.
This campaign, which pushed 10 kilometers into Iraqi territory, involved over 200 vehicles and units including mortars, artillery, and armored personnel carriers. It demonstrated Bagheri’s willingness to adopt aggressive cross-border strategies in order to secure Iran’s internal stability.
Legacy of Doctrine and Strategy
Bagheri was not only a military tactician but also a doctrinal thinker. Alongside prominent commanders like Yahya Rahim Safavi and Gholam Ali Rashid, he co-founded the Iranian Geopolitical Association, which served as a hub for military-intellectual discourse.
He emphasized:
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Hybrid warfare as a doctrine suitable for Iran’s constraints and advantages
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Geopolitical depth through strategic alliances and proxy relationships
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Military self-sufficiency, especially in drones, missiles, and asymmetric warfare
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Naval expansion, particularly in the Arabian Sea and the Makran coast
His doctrine suggested that Iran’s survival and power projection depended not only on defense but also on strategic depth and forward deterrence.