Definition
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is a branch of Iran's armed forces, distinct from the regular army (Artesh), founded after the 1979 revolution. It includes ground, naval, and aerospace components, the paramilitary Basij, and the Quds Force, which handles external operations and proxy relationships.
Why this matters when reading conflict news
Most stories about Iranian regional activity that name an Iranian actor are referring to the IRGC or the Quds Force specifically rather than to the regular military.