Draft:Amir Ali Hajizadeh

Amir Ali Hajizadeh
Name	Amir Ali Hajizadeh
Personal Details
Birth Place	Iran Tehran
Religion	Islam

Amir Ali Hajizadeh has served as the Commander of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps since 2019 SH. His distinguished record includes eight years of participation in the Imposed War starting in 1980 SH, serving as a sniper in Operations Valfajr-8, Karbala-4, and Karbala-5, and establishing the Hadid Missile Brigade alongside his commander, Brigadier General Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, known as the father of Iran's missile program during the war between the Iran and Iraq. He also commanded the Air Defense Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from 2006 SH. Notable missile and drone operations under his command include the prestigious True Promise operation, missile strikes against positions of the terrorist group Jaish al-Adl in the Kuh-e Sabz area of Balochistan province in Pakistan, an espionage headquarters of Mossad in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, as well as ISIS terrorist bases in Syria, separatist group headquarters in northern Iraq, the US Ain al-Asad base in Anbar Province, Iraq, and the destruction of an intruding American Global Hawk drone on June 20, 2019 SH. These operations demonstrated the military capability and deterrence power of the Islamic Republic of Iran in response to terrorist attacks by enemies against the nation.

Biography

Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh was born on February 28, 1962 SH, in Tehran.

Education

Before entering the military sphere, Brigadier General Hajizadeh took significant steps in his academic journey and advanced his education. While precise details regarding his field of study and university may be limited, it appears he studied in a field related to military management or aerospace. This educational background provided a foundation for him to be recognized as a capable commander in tactical and operational domains, enabling a deeper understanding of strategic and technical issues within the Aerospace Force.

Presence at the Front

Starting in 1980 SH at the age of 19, with the outbreak of the Imposed War, he proceeded to the fronts of truth against falsehood and served as a sniper in Operations Valfajr-8, Karbala-4, and Karbala-5, remaining at the front until the end of the war.

Responsibilities

Brigadier General Hajizadeh spent many years working in sensitive missile centers of the IRGC alongside Martyr Brigadier General Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, the father of Iran's missile program. When Brigadier General Tehrani Moghaddam and his team traveled to Syria for military training with the aim of establishing Iran's first missile unit upon completion of their courses, young missile officers were absent. Through the insight of Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the "Hadid Missile Brigade" was established to ensure that when Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam and his team returned to Iran, the necessary mechanisms and infrastructure would be ready for the commencement of activities by the IRGC's first missile team.

• Commander of the Air Defense Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran from 2006 SH;
• Commander of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran from 2009 SH.

Command of the IRGC Aerospace Force

File:Hajizadeh next to the Leader.jpg

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, issued a decree appointing "Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh" as the Commander of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The text of the decree is as follows:

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh

Based on the recommendation of the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and considering your experience and service record, I hereby appoint you as "Commander of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps". It is expected that you elevate the readiness and combat capability of the force to the desired level by strictly adhering to relevant regulations and working procedures. I express appreciation and gratitude for the valuable efforts and endeavors of Brigadier General Hossein Salami during his tenure in this position. I ask Almighty God for the success of all.

Ali Khamenei October 4, 2009 SH.

Missile Operations

1. Operation True Promise on 15 April 2024, utilizing combat drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, coordinated with forces from Hashd al-Shaabi, Hezbollah Lebanon, and the Houthis, targeting Israel in response to the airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.
2. The operation of 16 January 2024, a missile strike against headquarters of the Jaish al-Adl group in an area known as Kuh-e Sabz in the Balochistan province of Pakistan, in response to a terrorist attack by elements of this terrorist group on 14 December against an Iranian border outpost in Rask County, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, which martyred eleven border guards of the Law Enforcement Force and injured six others.
3. The operation of 16 January 2024, a missile strike using ballistic missiles against an Mossad intelligence headquarters in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (Erbil city) and also against ISIS terrorist headquarters in Syria, in response to the martyrdom of Seyyed Rezi Mousavi, a veteran commander of the IRGC on the Resistance Front, in an airstrike by the Zionist regime on his residence in Damascus, as well as in response to the martyrdom of two IRGC military advisors named Mohammadali Ataei Shurcheh and Panah Taghizadeh in Syria, Abu Taqwa al-Saeedi, a commander of Hashd al-Ashabi, by Americans, and Sheikh Saleh al-Arouri, deputy head of the political bureau of Hamas in Lebanon, by the Zionist regime.
4. Operations Rabi-1 and Rabi-2 in August and October 2022, attacks on headquarters of separatist groups in the northern region of Iraq, in response to the role of these terrorist groups in recent riots.
5. The operation on Sunday, 13 March 2022, a missile strike against two advanced training centers belonging to Mossad in Erbil city in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, in response to recent crimes committed by the Zionist regime in preceding weeks.
6. Operation Martyr Soleimani, in the early hours of 8 January 2020, involving the launch of dozens of ballistic missiles from Kermanshah toward the Al-Asad airbase of the United States located in Al-Anbar Province, Iraq, as an initial response to the terrorist attack by the United States on Baghdad airport and the martyrdom of Major General Qasem Soleimani and his companions.
7. The destruction of an intruding Global Hawk drone of the United States on 20 June 2019.
8. The operation of 1 October 2018, a missile strike against headquarters of Takfiri terrorists in the town of "Hajin," approximately 35 kilometers from Abu Kamal and 110 kilometers from Deir ez-Zor, in response to the terrorist crime of an armed attack on civilians and marching forces during a military parade on 22 September.
9. The operation of 8 September 2018, in response to counter-revolutionary terrorist actions against the Hamzeh Seyyed al-Shohada base in Marivan, which resulted in the martyrdom of eleven IRGC personnel; IRGC Aerospace Force units, in cooperation with drone units, targeted the location of Kurdish terrorist forces with missiles.
10. Operation Laylat al-Qadr on 18 June 2017, in response to the terrorist action by ISIS in attacking the Parliament, involving the launch of six Zolfaghar and Qiam missiles toward the ISIS command headquarters.

Designed Missile Capabilities

1. Fattah Hypersonic Missile: With a range of 1,400 kilometers and a speed of Mach 13 to 15, it is equipped with a maneuvering warhead featuring a gliding capability, known in technical terminology as an HGV. A "Hypersonic Glider" or "HGV" is a type of warhead for ballistic missiles capable of maneuvering and gliding within the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds. Only four countries worldwide, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, possess the technology for this class of hypersonic weaponry.
2. Persian Gulf Missile: The "Persian Gulf" is an anti-ship ballistic missile, sometimes referred to as an "aircraft carrier killer" or "destroyer of aircraft carriers," playing a significant role in Iran's naval capabilities. This single-stage, solid-fuel quasi-ballistic missile has an approximate range of 300 kilometers and can carry a payload of 650 kilograms. Built upon the "Fateh-110" missile platform, the "Persian Gulf" is equipped with a guidance system featuring "evasion from interception" capabilities.
3. Kheibar Shekan Missile: The precision-guided Kheibar Shekan missile, with a range of 1,450 kilometers, is one of the third-generation long-range ballistic missiles of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran's longest-range solid-fuel missile. During its terminal phase (dive), despite extremely high speeds (Mach 2 to 3), it possesses maneuverability to penetrate missile defense shields. With a length of 10.5 meters and a weight of 4,500 kilograms, it carries a maneuverable reentry warhead containing 500 kilograms of advanced explosives, possessing explosive power several times greater than TNT. Iran has reserved this missile to respond to any military adventurism by the Israeli regime and utilized it in an attack on terrorists in Syria in the early hours of January 16, 2024 (26 Dey 1402).
4. Sejjil Missile: "Sejjil" refers to a family of medium-range ballistic missiles powered by solid fuel. The Sejjil missile is 18 meters long, has a diameter of 1.25 meters, and a total launch weight of 23,600 kilograms. It can deliver a payload of approximately 700 kilograms to a range of 2,000 kilometers. Given that Sejjil has a maximum range of about 2,000 kilometers, some Western experts claim that Iran will employ this missile to deliver nuclear warheads following the development of nuclear weapons. As Iran's nuclear breakout time rapidly decreases, the threat posed by Sejjil to the country's adversaries has intensified.
5. Shahab-3 Missile: This is a medium-range ballistic missile utilizing liquid fuel, developed through the Iranian localization of North Korea's Nodong missile, and entered mass production in the 2000s. The missile is capable of carrying warheads weighing between 800 and 1,200 kilograms, yielding a range between 1,300 and 2,100 kilometers depending on the warhead size. Its physical characteristics include a weight of 16 tons, a diameter of 1.3 meters, and a length of 16 meters. The weight of the Shahab-3 is approximately 21,800 kilograms.
6. Khorramshahr-4 (Kheibar) Missile: This missile has a range of 2,000 kilometers and a warhead weight of 1,500 kilograms. The warhead length is approximately 4 meters, and its guidance is executed during the mid-course phase. Unlike other fuel/oxidizer combinations, the new propellant can be stored in tanks for years, reducing the launch preparation time to 12 minutes and transforming it into a tactical weapon.
7. Paveh Missile: Named "Paveh," this is one of Iran's latest achievements in cruise missile technology. Based on released imagery, several design differences compared to the third-generation Soumar missiles are evident. The missile's flight altitude is less than 50 meters, making its detection and interception by radars and air defense systems extremely difficult. The range of "Paveh" has been announced as 1,650 kilometers, increasing the range of Iranian anti-ground cruise missiles by at least 22 percent. This missile can strike intended targets via more complex routes or, as stated by Major General Hajizadeh, even from the opposite direction of the target.
8. Ghadr Missile: This missile has been produced in two variants: Ghadr-H with a range of 1,650 kilometers and Ghadr-F with a range of 1,950 kilometers. The Ghadr-110 is an upgraded model of the Shahab-3 missile. Some believe it is a two-stage missile, with the first stage using liquid fuel and the second stage using solid fuel, enabling it to achieve a range of 1,950 kilometers.
9. Emad Missile: The range of the Emad missile is estimated to be between 1,600 and 2,500 kilometers, and its targeting error rate is reported to be one-quarter that of the Shahab-3 missile. The long-range missile utilizes liquid fuel and, in its technical structure, employs not only a controllable nose cone but also steerable fins. It is capable of launch from both fixed and mobile platforms, and its nose cone is equipped with control and guidance systems and sensors. The missile is 15.5 meters long, with a body diameter of approximately 1.25 meters. The Emad missile weighs over 17,000 kilograms, and its warhead weight is estimated at only 750 kilograms.
10. Haj Qasem Missile: The "Martyr Haj Qasem" missile, with a range of 1,400 kilometers, can be considered the world's longest-range tactical ballistic missile. The warhead of the Haj Qasem missile weighs 500 kilograms, and its maximum speed is Mach 12. The total weight of this missile is 7 tons, and it features 8 fins. Its accuracy is reported to be under 10 meters. Entering the atmosphere at a speed equivalent to 12 times the speed of sound, this missile is capable of penetrating any missile defense system and, owing to its high precision and powerful warhead, destroys its target.

Reaction to the Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh

Brigadier General Hajizadeh, in response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh by the Zionist regime and the martyrdom of the head of the Hamas Political Bureau, stated: "Be prepared to show the Zionists the consequences of shedding the blood of a guest in our home." He further added, "We are still mourning the martyrdom of Haj Qasem in foreign lands."

Every Public Vote is a Missile Shot at the Enemy

Brigadier General Hajizadeh cast his vote at Abu Zar Mosque to participate in the second round of the presidential election, stating: "The vote cast by the honorable nation of the Iran in the ballot box contributes to enhancing the power, authority, and identity of the Iran in the region and the world. Every public vote is a missile shot directed at the enemy."

Palestinians: The Changers of Regional and Global History

The Commander of the Aerospace Force of the IRGC, addressing a group of families of martyrs from Gaza involved in the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood who had entered Tehran via certain regional countries, made the following remarks during a visit to the National Aerospace Park: "In every capacity we possess, we stand and will continue to stand with the resistance and the people of Palestine until the last drop of our blood. As the Supreme Leader of the Revolution has stated, the nation of Palestine will undoubtedly emerge victorious. Your steadfastness and resistance are truly beyond description. The fact that some among you have lost 30 to 40 martyrs is incomprehensible to non-Palestinians. We congratulate you on this resistance and success... Rest assured that you are changing the course of world history, and this will indeed come to pass. You will alter the history of the region and the world. We stand firmly with you until the end, and we will do everything within our power to support our dear Palestinian brothers."

Operation True Promise Attributed to the Efforts of Martyr Amir-Abdollahian

On the occasion of the martyrdom of Amir-Abdollahian, Brigadier General Hajizadeh stated in an interview with IRIB: "If Operation True Promise has evolved into a distinguished operation on the global scale commensurate with the Islamic Revolution, it is owed to our esteemed colleagues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, foremost among them Martyr Amir-Abdollahian."

Condolence Message on the Martyrdom of Ayatollah Raisi and His Companions

In a condolence message issued on the occasion of the martyrdom of Ayatollah Raisi and his companions, Brigadier General Hajizadeh stated: "The glorious martyrdom for Iran and Islam is the result of the struggles of scholars and brave sons who have learned the lessons of love and sacrifice in the human-building school of Islam, and who, with courage and valor, create epic moments in the arenas of the Islamic Revolution, rendering a nation glorious and renowned throughout history. I offer congratulations and condolences on the martyrdom of the servant of Imam Reza, the sayyid of the martyrs of service, Ayatollah Dr. Sayyid Ebrahim Raisi, and a group of his companions in the Islamic Revolution, to the presence of His Holiness, the Remaining Proof of God (may God hasten his reappearance), the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, and the honorable nation of Iran. The heartbreaking incident of the helicopter crash and the martyrdom of the President, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Representative of the Supreme Leader in East Azerbaijan, the Governor of East Azerbaijan Province, and their companions, has deeply saddened everyone. I beseech Almighty God to grant these devoted and sincere martyrs the highest ranks in Paradise, and I hope that He will gather them with the righteous in the highest heavens, and bestow patience, forbearance, and tranquility of heart upon their noble families and the martyr-nurturing nation of martyr-honoring Iran."

Iran Among the Top Three Countries Worldwide in the Drone Sector

The Commander of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated on 17 Esfand 1402 SH (March 7, 2024), while addressing a gathering of NODET (National Organization for Development of Exceptional Talents) students from across the country who were visiting the Hazrat Ali-Akbar (peace be upon him) site: "The journeys of the 'Pathfinders of Progress' and 'Pathfinders of Light' camps differ from other trips. You, NODET students, have traveled to war zones, areas where our dear ones valiantly defended for eight years during the Sacred Defense, without a single inch of Islamic Republic of Iran soil being separated. On one side of the Eight-Year Sacred Defense War stood the nation of Iran, relying on God, while on the other side stood Saddam, supported by the USA, UK, France, and many European and Arab countries..." He added: "The enemies could not defeat the Iranian nation on the battlefield; thus, they have changed the nature of warfare and now seek to influence minds. The generations born in the 1990s and 2000s must defeat the enemy in this arena. The country's military sector is vaccinated and insured. Had this drone base, which you visited today, existed during the Sacred Defense, the war would not have lasted eight years but would have concluded within two. We have achieved a high standard in all sectors. In the field of drones, we rank among the top three countries globally. You, NODET students, must elevate the country to its pinnacle. Make use of the lessons learned from this journey."

IRGC Drone Operations Against Mossad and Terrorists

Major General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, stated in a press conference regarding the dawn missile operation today against ISIS in Syria and Mossad operatives in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: "In recent weeks, we have witnessed several atrocities; one was the act by Takfiri groups and ISIS in the city of Kerman, which caused the tragic Kerman incident, resulting in the martyrdom of a large number of our compatriots and loved ones. Naturally, this action had to be answered. Therefore, locations in eastern Syria and around Idlib, serving as headquarters for Takfiri groups and ISIS militants, were targeted, and by God's grace, we were able to send a large number of them to their doom." He continued, referring to the martyrdom of Major General Seyyed Rezi Mousavi in Syria: "Alongside this, we observed that the Zionist regime, due to the pressure it faces in Gaza, carried out operations in Syria and martyred two IRGC guards. We had to confront this action and avenge the blood of the martyrs. Consequently, a location in the Kurdistan Region was identified; it appeared to be a villa, but as images released after the IRGC attacks show, it was a solid, reinforced concrete building used for espionage and conducting special terrorist operations inside Iran, such as assassinations and quadcopter operations. Incidentally, this site was the fourth such location targeted in recent days."

Hypersonic Missiles

In late Aban 1401 SH (November 2022), Major General Hajizadeh, speaking to participants in the "Pathfinders of Progress" camp, added: "The capability of the enemy's defensive shield was rendered ineffective by the "Hypersonic" missile." He attributed this capability to the efforts of individuals such as Martyr Major General Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, regarding him as the symbol of Iran's missile power due to his sincerity and loyalty to the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist, noting that others are following in his footsteps in this field.

Acceptance of Responsibility for the Ukrainian Plane Crash

Although the Superior Court in Canada, after eighteen court sessions (from November 2023 to January 2024), finally issued its ruling, emphasizing that "Ukraine International Airlines failed to prove that it did not commit negligence by weighing the probabilities in granting permission for flight PS752 to depart from Tehran," it declared that Ukraine International Airlines "did not fully exercise 'standard care' according to international aviation laws in granting flight permission for that aircraft and, based on the latest available information, did not assess safety." According to the ruling of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario, the legal responsibility for paying full compensation to the families who lost their loved ones in the crash of flight PS752 lies with Ukraine International Airlines.

Nevertheless, Major General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, with utmost humility and foresight prior to the announcement of this ruling, accepted responsibility for the crash of the Ukrainian Boeing 737, which was shot down by an air defense missile of the Islamic Republic of Iran, during a press conference on 21 Dey 1398 SH (January 11, 2020). Hajizadeh explained in this regard that the relevant air defense system mistakenly identified the aircraft as a cruise missile and engaged it in error. He added: "When I became certain that this had happened, I wished for my own death, wishing that I had died and not witnessed this incident. We have spent our lives as vanguards for the people, and today we trade our honor with God Almighty, appearing before the cameras in these difficult conditions to explain." The Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force continued: "The investigation of this incident will be conducted by higher headquarters and the Judiciary, and full information will be gathered. Let me state at the very beginning of my remarks that our necks are thinner than a hair; we accept full responsibility for the matter, and whatever decision the officials make, we are obedient to its execution".

Receiving the Fath Medal

Following the brilliant "True Promise 2" operation, the "Fath Medal" was awarded to Major General Hajizadeh, Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, by the hand of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. According to ISNA, His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, awarded the "Fath Medal" to Major General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Commander of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, during a ceremony. The Fath Medal was chosen as a symbol of the victorious operations of the fighters of Islam and the conquerors of these operations. This medal consists of three palm leaves, the dome of the Great Mosque of Khorramshahr, and the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Martyrdom

During the Israeli attack on Iran at dawn on 23 Khordad, he attained martyrdom alongside a group of his companions.

See Also

• Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
• Ali Khamenei
• Islamic Republic of Iran
• Operation True Promise 2
• Operation True Promise
• Iran-Iraq War

Sources

• Regarding General Hajizadeh, Tabnak, publication date: n.d., access date: 11 August 2024.

• The education of General Hajizadeh, My Abhar, publication date: n.d., access date: 11 August 2024.

• The role of General Hajizadeh in establishing Iran's missile unit, Center for Documents of the Islamic Revolution, publication date: 13 January 2020, access date: 11 August 2024.

• The appointment of General Amir Ali Hajizadeh as commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, Office for Publishing and Preserving the Works of Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, publication date: 4 October 2019, access date: 11 August 2024.

• Recognizing the IRGC missile operations against terrorists, Khabar Online, publication date: 16 January 2024, access date: 11 August 2024.

• Iran's best missiles + specifications, Eghtesad24, publication date: 27 April 2024, access date: 11 August 2024.

• General Hajizadeh's latest reaction to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, Hadeseh 24, publication date: 31 July 2024, access date: 11 August 2024.

• Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Mehr News Agency, publication date: n.d., access date: 11 August 2024.

• The Canadian court ruling on Ukraine's negligence in the crash of Flight 752, Al-Alam Network, publication date: 11 June 2024, access date: 11 August 2024.

• General Hajizadeh: The armed forces and the IRGC did not intend to conceal this incident, Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) 1313, publication date: 11 January 2020, access date: 11 August 2024.