نشریه مطالعات دفاع مقدس و نبردهای معاصر
سال ششم شماره 1 (پیاپی 10، بهار و تابستان 1403)

Examining the influential components of any country's foreign policy can be instrumental in explaining and advancing its international objectives. One of the most crucial components influencing a country's foreign policy is the individual executing the predetermined policies in the realm of foreign affairs. To delve into this matter, it is essential to analyze the political personality and mindset of the policy executor in the field of foreign policy.This study aims to examine the character of Martyr Haj Qasem Soleimani and its influence on the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the West Asia region, seeking to elucidate the impact of influential individuals on the proper execution of foreign relations. This research employs a descriptive-analytical method within the theoretical framework of "Rosena's Continuity Model" and "Political Psychology Theory," utilizing data collection techniques based on library resources.The findings reveal that Soleimani's charismatic, devout, loyal, intelligent, and prudent personality, combined with his legal authority in regional foreign policy, has contributed to establishing peace in the region and advancing the objectives of the Islamic Revolution in foreign policy.

The outcome of Operation Valfajr 8 shifted the balance of the war in favor of Iran. The main reason for success in this operation was the surprise of the Iraqi army in the Faw region. The research questions are: What factors contributed to the surprise of the Iraqi army? In what dimensions was the Iraqi army surprised? To what extent was the Iraqi army surprised? And finally, how significant was the surprise of the Iraqi army in the victory of Operation Valfajr 8?This research is descriptive-analytical in nature and was conducted through the examination of books, documents, and records, along with interviews and questionnaires to gather the necessary information. The findings indicate that factors such as information security, deceptive operations particularly in the Hoveyzeh marshes, support operations especially in the Amal-al-Rasas region, river-crossing tactics, breaching operations, rapid execution of operation phases, and weather conditions on the night of the operation were significant in surprising Iraq in Operation Valfajr 8. The timing of the operation also contributed to this surprise to some extent.The Iraqi army was completely surprised strategically and operationally, and to a large extent tactically, in Operation Valfajr 8. The level of surprise was so high that it was considered the most important factor in the operation's success. The impact of the surprise on the Iraqi army was such that, had Iraq not been surprised with all its capabilities, Iran's victory in this operation would not have been possible.

This study aims to identify the security implications of the normalization of relations between Arab states and Israel and to assess its impact on the Resistance Axis. The research problem focuses on examining the regional initiatives of the Zionist regime in the process of normalizing Arab-Israeli relations, with particular emphasis on the Western-Hebrew axis. Utilizing a mixed-method approach, this research combines qualitative methods based on document analysis and note-taking with quantitative methods involving statistical analysis and surveys. This article is of an applied research nature, seeking to discover the consequences of a specific event by identifying existing issues and dominant trends, thereby adopting a descriptive approach.The establishment of strategic relations between Arab states and Israel enables the latter to enhance its espionage and intelligence-security operations against the Resistance Axis through Arab countries. The findings indicate that the normalization of Arab-Israeli relations impacts the security of the Resistance Axis from various perspectives, including the creation of a threat balance against the Resistance Axis, the formation of new regional alignments against the Resistance Axis, the expansion of U.S. influence in the region, the growth of terrorist groups, the failure to establish a stable security regime and arrangements in the Middle East, and the regional isolation and weakening of the Resistance Axis.

This research aims to rank the dimensions of the organizational culture model based on Islamic resistance in the school of Martyr Haj Qasem Soleimani using Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM). This study follows a mixed-method approach (qualitative and quantitative) and is developmental-applied in its objective, utilizing a survey methodology. The data collection method combines both library research and field studies, employing documents, expert interviews, and questionnaires as tools.The statistical population of this research includes university professors, experts in the field of Islamic resistance culture, senior managers of the governorate, and comrades of Martyr Soleimani, selected through purposive sampling, estimated at 21 individuals. Data analysis in this study was conducted using NVIVO version 11, EXCEL version 2019, and SPSS version 26 software.The qualitative data collected resulted in the extraction of 99 initial codes, 33 basic themes, and 11 organizing themes. The results indicate that the 11 themes of the organizational culture model based on Islamic resistance in the school of Martyr Haj Qasem Soleimani in the governorate of Sistan and Baluchestan are categorized into three levels. The most influential themes identified are: "strategy-oriented culture," "culture of promoting Islamic values," "commitment-oriented culture," "culture of resistance and perseverance," and "culture of participation and cooperation." The most impacted themes include: "justice-oriented culture," "ethical culture," "culture of accepting criticism," and "culture of Jihad and revolutionary spirit."

The United Arab Emirates and the Zionist regime, fearing the rise and regional influence of the Islamic Republic of Iran, have aligned their positions and based their primary reconciliation process on the perceived or actual threat from Iran and countering what they deem as Iran's security threats. In this context, the objective of this research is to formulate the strategies of the Islamic Republic of Iran for countering the security implications of the relations between the United Arab Emirates and the Zionist regime.To systematically analyze the collected data, the validation of findings involved in-depth interviews with subject matter experts, whose opinions were gathered through a researcher-made questionnaire. Their perspectives formed the basis for developing the environment-based SOAR strategies. The research findings indicate that the strategic alliance between the Zionists and the Emiratis aims to reshape the regional security structure (geopolitics of the Middle East), with the ultimate goal of reinforcing, stabilizing, and guaranteeing the security of the Zionist regime. Consequently, these relations have multiple security implications, including creating a security belt around Iran, fostering Arab consensus and resolving the Palestinian issue, promoting Iranophobia, altering regional bloc alignments, shifting the balance of power and regional security structure, extending insecurity and crises within Iran, and intensifying sectarian and identity conflicts to undermine Iran's regional power and threaten its national security and interests.In response to these security threats, the Islamic Republic of Iran should develop strategies focusing on three main axes: reducing tensions and expanding regional cooperation, enhancing military capabilities, and strengthening elements of national power.

Educating the students and children of this land is a critical responsibility entrusted to the educational community by the Supreme Leader. In this context, the educational program in schools can serve as a lever for fostering and nurturing the moral, Islamic, and spiritual aspects of students. Utilizing a native and national model exemplified by a hero such as the martyred commander Qasem Soleimani can play a significant and prominent role in this effort. The objective of this research is to present an educational model based on the educational dimensions and components in the perspective of Haj Qasem Soleimani, with the aim of strengthening the educational program in secondary schools.This qualitative research is conducted within the interpretivist paradigm. The statistical population and sample of this study encompass all speeches and manuscripts of Martyr Haj Qasem Soleimani, totaling 22 speeches and handwritten notes. Data collection was carried out through library research and document analysis. Additionally, data analysis was performed using thematic analysis.Following the analysis and extraction of relevant themes, 203 basic themes were identified and subsequently categorized into 18 organized themes. Ultimately, 5 overarching themes were identified, encompassing Jihadi and martyrdom educational dimensions, religious and spiritual dimensions, social educational dimensions, personal educational dimensions, and political educational dimensions. These themes were presented under a comprehensive model based on the educational perspective of Martyr Haj Qasem Soleimani.

The roles of various social groups during the eight-year Sacred Defense were significant and impactful. Among these groups, women played a crucial role alongside other segments of society, undertaking important actions and roles. The significance of this topic inspired the present study to examine the role of women during the eight-year Sacred Defense.This qualitative study employs thematic analysis to examine findings published over approximately the past 12 years, from 2011 to 2023, in Persian journals using the keywords "women" and "ladies" along with Sacred Defense and war in databases such as Google Scholar, Ensani, Noormags, Civilica, SID, and Magiran. Ultimately, 15 articles were included in this study.The findings indicate that women's roles can be categorized into themes such as medical and nursing care, combat and military roles, role models and leadership, social roles, education, and family. Despite the oral recounting of various roles during the eight-year Sacred Defense, a detailed and specific emphasis on the roles of women in the war is crucial. Addressing these roles comprehensively is vital for confronting gender stereotypes and emphasizing the less-heard contributions of women, particularly in the military sector.

In Iran, the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament) is a crucial decision-making body, regarded as a legacy of the Constitutional Revolution. Given the significant role of Parliament in the country, exploring its stance on the imposed Iraq-Iran War is a subject worthy of scholarly attention. Additionally, examining the Parliament's position on the imposed war can enhance our understanding of this event.This study employs thematic analysis based on document studies and aims to answer the question: What was the military stance of the second term representatives of the Islamic Consultative Assembly towards the imposed Iraq-Iran War? The findings show that, with the onset of the imposed Iraq-Iran War, the representatives' stance focused on strengthening the country's military forces by providing military equipment and facilities, paying attention to infrastructure, managing military operations correctly, implementing the conscription law, and emphasizing the role of the Basij in the war.

Martyr Qasem Soleimani was the principal figure of soft power for the Islamic Republic in the region. It appears that examining the statements of the Supreme Leader regarding this distinguished martyr can provide the best guidance for identifying the characteristics of Haj Qasem Soleimani's school. This study seeks to answer the question: What are the soft power characteristics of Martyr Haj Qasem Soleimani's school, with an emphasis on the statements of Imam Khamenei? This developmental-applied research utilized document analysis and qualitative content analysis methods. The aim is to examine the soft power characteristics of Martyr Qasem Soleimani's school, as emphasized by Imam Khamenei.The findings indicate that the soft power characteristics of Martyr Haj Qasem Soleimani's school, as highlighted by Imam Khamenei, include sincerity and devotion, responsibility, combined courage and prudence, allegiance to the leadership, and recognizing and opposing tyranny.

The conflict involving the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its urban branch, the Patriotic Revolutionary Youth Movement (YDGH), in Kurdish cities of Turkey has, for several weeks, destabilized national sovereignty in these regions and stripped governmental forces of their security control. The social ramifications of this conflict echo crises faced by several Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East.This study, while addressing the primary question of how Turkey's foreign policy confronts the PKK and its impact on the strategic security considerations of the Islamic Republic of Iran, explores the social and political developments within the Kurdish community. Additionally, it examines the approaches of the PKK and Kurdish political movements in Turkey. Methodologically, this research is descriptive-analytical. Data were collected through documentation and referencing credible sources such as books, articles, and reports, as well as field observations and the researchers' experiences.The findings indicate that by creating insecurity and altering the conditions in Iraq and Syria, Turkey has not only jeopardized the Iran-Iraq-Syria energy transit route to the Mediterranean but has also cast a shadow over the North-South transit corridor with the achievements in Karabakh.

Since the start of the internal unrest in Arab countries, known as the Islamic Awakening or Arab Spring, the United States has been trying to use fundamentalist Takfiri groups to reshape the region's political and security landscape to its advantage. These groups have chosen cities as their primary targets for several reasons, including the use of civilian cover and the robustness of buildings to protect themselves from the firepower of the resistance front. Given the persistent threat of Takfiri ideology to the Islamic world, we embarked on this study titled "Combat Tactics of Takfiri Groups in Urban Warfare in Syria and Iraq." Our goal is to identify the urban warfare tactics used by Takfiri groups in Syria and Iraq. We posed the research question: what are the combat tactics of Takfiri groups in urban warfare in these countries? This applied research employs a descriptive-analytical (survey) method, utilizing both descriptive and inferential statistics to analyze the data. Our findings indicate that Takfiri groups prioritize irregular operations over regular ones. This is natural given the urban environment, which necessitates irregular operations, and the operational asymmetry between these groups and the resistance front.

Resistance literature is a branch of literature that embodies the ingrained concepts of struggle and resistance. This genre focuses on combating oppression, tyranny, and despotism with the primary objective of achieving freedom and liberation, with resistance emphasized until this goal is attained. Within this context, the issue of Palestine, the mobilization of Palestinian fighters, the admiration of their resistance, and the depiction of the Zionist occupiers' image are considered some of the most significant manifestations of resistance literature. Numerous poets have addressed this theme in various forms of Persian and Arabic poetry and prose.This study aims to apply the concepts of sustainability and resistance concerning Palestine and to design a pragmatic model in this context. The present research is developmental in its objective and qualitative in its approach, conducted through meta-synthesis. The statistical population includes a collection of articles published from 2013 to 2023 on the subject of resistance literature and the Palestinian struggle. The authors selected 66 articles out of 148 from prominent domestic scientific databases and, after content analysis, extracted the categories and concepts, prioritizing them using Shannon's entropy method.Based on the research findings, 32 concepts were identified and categorized into eight themes, which were further divided into two groups: negative and positive factors. The negative concepts include extensive human rights violations by the Zionists, severe criticism of the international community's silence, rejection of any compromise, and the denial of a heedless society. The positive concepts include the transition from Arab identity to Islamic identity, the expansion of the authority of bravery and martyrdom-seeking, coalition and unity, and the realization of the divine promise (depicting a bright horizon of victory).