Retired Indian General Analyzes Iran's Mosaic Defense Strategy

Retired Indian Army officer KJS Dhillon stated that Iran's four decades of strategic war planning have prevented the United States and Israel from decisively decimating the country. Speaking at an Observer Research Foundation America event in Washington, Dhillon explained that Iran utilizes a mosaic doctrine, which decentralizes its armed forces into 31 independent headquarters to ensure operational continuity if central leadership is lost.

Dhillon noted that Iran has prioritized attritional warfare and the defense of the Strait of Hormuz through chokepoint strategies involving drones, missiles, and sea mines. This approach favors these asymmetric capabilities over the development of a traditional air force or aircraft carrier fleet. He further highlighted that Iran's mountainous terrain makes ground invasions impractical.

Concluding his analysis, Dhillon argued that the conflict demonstrates the necessity for nations to establish clear national aims and exit strategies before initiating overseas wars. He emphasized that clarity on the end stage is essential for a military to declare victory.