Greetings!
IOTL, Iran's aid to the Iraqi insurgents and Taliban has been limited. In Iraq, Iranian aid is linked to approximately 500 US deaths, out of over 4,000.
But what if, for one reason or another, Iran decided to give massive support to the oppositoion in Iraq and Afghanistan, including heavy weapons and Revolutionary Guard advisors?
The introduction of MANPADS and advanced anti-armor weapons could create an environment similar to the Soviet War in Afghanistan. Movement by air is restricted, reducing mobility across rough terrain, thus handing more control of the countryside to the enemy. This leaves movement by vehicle as the only reliable method of transportation, but the introdunction of better anti-vehicle weapons and tactics leads to a corrosponding spike in casualties.
IRGC advisors could foster a more highly trained insurgency, which could inflict more casualties on coalition forces. Plus, CAS would suffer significantly from the introduction of MANPADS, forcing troops to go without CAS in many cases. Altogether, this would lead to more coalition infantry casualties and less success on the ground.
What do you think?