Mojtaba Khamenei defies ‘malicious’ attacks as US Army zeroes in on Iran’s 350,000 troops

Trump: Every Iranian ship is at the bottom of sea

President Donald Trump said Iran’s military capabilities have been significantly degraded following U.S. strikes, claiming the country now fields fewer drones and missiles and asserting that its navy and air force have been destroyed.

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Oct. 8 that U.S. and Israeli strikes had failed to undermine Iran’s domestic security forces. He praised police personnel for resisting attacks launched in February under Operations Epic Fury and Roaring Lion, and emphasized that the Law Enforcement Command (FARAJA) remains a cornerstone of internal order.

In a separate post on X, Khamenei noted that the U.S. Army had released a new battlefield identification guide to help American troops recognize members of Iran’s conventional military, known as the Artesh. According to a June assessment by the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, the Artesh’s ground forces are estimated at roughly 350,000 personnel, including about 220,000 conscripts.

“The criminal U.S.–Zionist enemy’s desperate efforts and malicious attacks on the pillars of social order and security, which are unparalleled throughout history, have not caused the courageous personnel of the Police Force to waver even a fraction in their mission,” Khamenei wrote.

He specifically lauded Iran’s Law Enforcement Command, known as FARAJA, accusing the United States and Israel of targeting the institution responsible for maintaining domestic order.

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Khamenei specifically praised Iran’s Law Enforcement Command, known as FARAJA, accusing the United States and Israel of targeting the institution responsible for maintaining domestic order. (Photo by Fars News Agency / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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Iran’s FARAJA is responsible for domestic law enforcement and internal security. (REUTERS/Mohammed Salem Foreign media)

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FARAJA is commanded by Brig. Gen. Ahmadreza Radan and serves as Iran’s principal domestic police organization, tasked with maintaining public order, enforcing the country’s laws and responding to civil unrest. ((Photo by Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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The U.S. Army’s Training and Transformation Command released a “Know the Threat” identification guide on Sept. 24, highlighted by Defense News on Oct. 9. The document displays an Iranian special‑forces soldier and lists weapons American troops could encounter, including AKM rifles, Iranian‑made Masaf‑2 rifles, German‑designed G3 rifles, MG3 machine guns and RPG‑7 rocket‑propelled grenade launchers.

Iran’s security apparatus consists of three principal branches: the Artesh, which focuses on conventional territorial defense; the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), tasked with protecting the Islamic Republic and projecting military power; and FARAJA, responsible for domestic law enforcement and internal security.

The Artesh, Iran’s regular military, is commanded by Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami, a former defense minister who assumed the post in June 2025. Its forces operate across four branches: the Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense Force. A June assessment by the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security estimated the Artesh’s Ground Forces at approximately 350,000 personnel, including 220,000 conscripts.

According to the report, the Artesh suffered severe losses across its air, naval and air‑defense components during the opening phase of the U.S.–Israeli military campaign, while its ground forces remained structurally intact because there has been no large‑scale ground invasion.

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The Artesh, Iran’s regular military, is separate from the IRGC and its affiliated Basij militia. Its forces operate across four branches: the Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense Force. (Photo by Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Hatami, who also holds the title of defense minister, issued a warning on Oct. 6, claiming that Iran’s adversaries faced “historic confusion” after failing to halt military production during the conflict. He asserted that Iranian defense‑production lines continued operating despite American and Israeli attacks, though the full extent of the country’s recovery remains uncertain.

President Donald Trump said on Oct. 8 that Washington would not resume military strikes against Iran before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, citing “productive discussions” between the two governments.

Emma Bussey is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital. Before joining Fox, she worked at The Telegraph with the U.S. overnight team, across desks including foreign, politics, news, sport and culture.

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