Iran's Revolutionary Guard begins military exercise
IRGC launches three-day ground troops exercise in Islamic Republic's southeastern region; says 'Great Prophet 8' meant to upgrade combat readiness
Iran's Revolutionary Guard has begun a three-day ground and air military exercise aimed at "upgrading its combat readiness."
Tehran's State TV said Saturday that the drills involve the Guard's ground forces, considered to be Iran's most powerful military force, around the city of Sirjan in the country's south.
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The broadcast showed tanks and artillery attacking hypothetical enemy positions. The report said that the aim of the exercise is "to upgrade the capabilities of the Iranian forces" but did not elaborate further.
IRGC Ground Forces Commander Mohammad Pakpour announced the three-day exercise, titled "Great Prophet 8," on Wednesday.
"The drill will provide ground troops with an opportunity to practice defensive plans and asymmetric warfare tactics," Pakpour said.
"New advanced pieces of military hardware, which have recently been delivered to the IRGC Ground Forces, and new telecommunications and electronic warfare systems will be used and tested during the exercise," Iran's state TV quoted him as saying.
The Revolutionary Guard held a three-day missile exercise – "Great Prophet 7" – in the Semnan Desert in north-central Iran, in July 2012.
The war games are taking place amid escalating tensions between Iran and the West over Tehran's disputed nuclear program. Israel has hinted that it may take military action if talks fail to get Iran stop its uranium enrichment program.
The US and its allies accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies.
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