Mohammad Ali Jafari's 'Mosaic Defence' Enables Iran's Military Resilience After Leadership Losses

Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, former commander-in-chief of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (2007–2019), developed the 'Mosaic Defence' doctrine to decentralize Iran's military command. This strategy disperses authority across semi-independent units, enabling Iran to sustain military operations despite the February 28, 2026, US-Israel 'Operation Epic Fury' strikes that killed top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The doctrine's design has allowed Iran to continue retaliatory attacks and maintain resilience amid leadership losses, challenging Western expectations of a swift collapse.