Iran starts major phase of military drill

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

1390/12/01
02-20-2012
10:31:51
News Code :9012-00175

TEHRAN (ISNA) - Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Ground Forces began the major phase of the drill on Monday.

The initial and preparation levels of the military maneuver dubbed "Valfajr" were accomplished successfully as the exercise managed to obtain its goals. The exercise began Sunday in central Iranian city of Yazd.

A commander of the drill Ahmad Danesh-Pajouh said the military exercise is in line with defense doctrine of the IRGC Ground Forces.

The military exercise involves engineering and armored brigades. The Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Ground Forces Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour said Sunday the drill is the last phase of the IRGC ground forces' series of war games attended by infantry units and some Basij members of "Imam Hossein" brigade.

Pakpour noted the exercise seeks elevating defense and deterrence power, strengthening capabilities, exercising new defense tactics and applying locally-made advanced equipment.

Pakpour noted integration, coordination and might for combat operations and new joint defensive methods and tactics between infantry forces and operation brigades composed of Basij forces are among the specifications of the drill.

Iran has already launched the "Velayat-e 90" naval drill in an area stretching from the east of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Aden, which wrapped up on January 2. The drill took place in line with a directive issued by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, instructing Iran’s armed forces to maintain total readiness to defend the nation against any potential threats.