Report Date: March 2026 | Classification: UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO
Glossary of Terms
A2/AD (Anti-Access/Area Denial)
Military strategy used to prevent an adversary from entering or operating within a specific geographic area, heavily utilized by Iran in the Persian Gulf using missiles, mines, and fast attack craft.
Axis of Resistance
An informal military and political alliance network led by Iran, including Hezbollah (Lebanon), Hamas (Gaza), various Shia militias in Iraq and Syria, and the Houthi movement (Yemen).
CENTCOM (United States Central Command)
The unified combatant command of the US military responsible for operations in the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of South Asia.
CSG (Carrier Strike Group)
An operational US naval formation built around a supercarrier, providing massive power projection and strike capabilities.
IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps)
The primary branch of the Iranian Armed Forces, tasked with protecting the Islamic Republic's political system. It controls Iran's ballistic missile forces and proxy networks via the Quds Force.
ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance)
The coordinated acquisition, processing, and provision of accurate, relevant, and timely information and intelligence to support military operations.
Strait of Hormuz
A strategic maritime chokepoint between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, through which approximately 20-30% of the world's total global oil consumption passes.
Saturation Attack
A military tactic involving the simultaneous launch of numerous weapons (e.g., missiles or drones) designed to overwhelm and exhaust the adversary's defensive systems.
HDBT (Hardened and Deeply Buried Targets)
Military or nuclear facilities constructed deep underground and heavily reinforced to withstand conventional air strikes. Iran's Fordow nuclear facility is a primary example.