Iran commander says deployment of 39,000 troops foiled ground invasion plan

Brigadier General Ali Jahanshahi, a commander in the Iranian Army Ground Forces, said that the deployment of 39,000 troops across various parts of the country thwarted an enemy plan for a ground invasion. In remarks reported by Mehr News, he explained that army units were stationed from the southwest to the West and East Azarbaijan provinces, as well as in Sistan and Baluchestan and along the Makran coast. Despite difficult weather conditions, the units carried out their assigned missions, he said.

General Jahanshahi stated that the enemy had expected airstrikes and the assassination of commanders to pave the way for proxy forces and terrorist groups to enter Iran. However, the rapid and extensive deployment of army and Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) units along the borders thwarted that plan, he added.

He noted that following the 12-Day War in 2025, Iran’s armed forces reviewed battlefield experience, revised operational plans, reorganized combat formations and strengthened defensive positions. Combat-readiness exercises at military bases and the reinforcement of border units were among the measures taken to counter potential threats, according to the commander.

General Jahanshahi said the Ground Forces were prepared to counter any act of aggression, citing their mobile assault brigades, rapid-response forces, special units and mechanized forces. He added that army personnel considered the defense of Iran’s territorial integrity their duty, stressing that the armed forces had assumed responsibility for protecting national interests and ensuring the country’s security following the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

According to Mehr News, the commander’s remarks highlight Iran’s ongoing military readiness and its response to perceived external threats.