Iran’s IRGC stages massive military exercise along southern shores

Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan, the IRGC’s deputy chief of operations and spokesman for the Great Prophet 17 joint drills, said the drills involve various IRGC units, such as the aerospace force and the cyber-electronic division, and covers the coastlines of the southern Iranian provinces of Hormozgan, Bushehr, and Khuzestan.

He noted that the participating units will carry out offensive operations so as to destroy the hypothetical enemy’s sources of attacks.

“The military exercise is meant to increase the preparedness of the IRGC combat units. It simulates one of the most sophisticated offensive plans used in hybrid warfare and replicates synchronicity and coherence in soft, semi-hard, and hard areas of combat,” the senior Iranian military official said.

General Nilforoushan went on to say that the Basij volunteer force will bring in human force for naval and ground exercises at the drill.

A series of military systems and weapons recently delivered to the IRGC will be brought into action during the war game, the general noted.

“The military drills carry the message of defending and safeguarding the national security, as well as peace, friendship and comfort for neighbors. Our defense doctrine rests upon security and might, as well as active and smart deterrence in the Persian Gulf region,” he explained.

Iran’s Armed Forces hold routine military exercises throughout the year.

Iranian military experts and technicians have in recent years made great progress in developing and manufacturing a broad range of domestically-manufactured equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient in this regard.

Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the Islamic Republic will not hesitate to build up its defense capabilities, emphasizing such abilities are entirely meant for the purpose of defense and will be never subject to negotiations.

‘Enemies to face crushing response in case of miscalculation’

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief of Iranian Army for Coordination Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari warned the enemies against any miscalculation and any military adventure against the Islamic Republic.

The enemies must bear in mind that they will meet the same fate as that of those behind the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war if they continue to threaten Tehran and mount an attack against Iranian military and nuclear sites, he asserted.

Iranian politicians and military officials have repeatedly warned Israel against any adventurism against the Islamic Republic, pledging a crushing response to any act of aggression.

Last week, Iran’s Army Commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi said Israel’s empty threats hail from Tel Aviv’s fear of the Islamic Republic and said the country’s firm response to any Israeli aggression would bring about the occupying entity’s annihilation.