In the official Iranian account, the "Defenders of the Shrine" are fighters who deployed to protect Shia holy sites and counter takfiri groups such as ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Iranian sources describe the advisory presence and these forces as part of counter-terrorism and forward defense; units such as Fatemiyoun and Zeynabiyoun were active in this framework.
Compiled from the official narrative and sources of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Assessments differ across sources; this entry reflects the official Iranian narrative.
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