LOC22:12
19:12 GMT
TEHRAN, Feb 20 (KUNA) -- The first stage of the major war games of the
Iranian air defense started Monday in southern Iran.
The maneuver, codenamed "Sarallah" (or God's vengeance) takes place over an
area amounting to 190 sq km, with combat units from the Islamic Revolution
Guard Corps (IRGC), internal defense and Basij volunteer paramilitary troops
as well as the military intelligence service taking part, the Islamic Republic
News Agency (IRNA) reported.
During the four-day exercise a large number of anti-aircraft missiles will
be launched and modern radar systems will be tested, the report said without
specifying the aims of the maneuver.
Meanwhile, the semi-official Mehr-News agency said the Ground Force started
a major war game central province of Yazd yesterday.
The two-day Valfajr war game aims to repel the asymmetric threats made by
the mock enemy during the main stage of the Valfajr land military exercises,
the agency quoted Commander of the IRGC Ground Forces Mohammad Pakpour as
saying.
Pakpour had previously said that the purpose of the war games was to
display IRGC forces' capabilities to repel possible military threats by
extra-regional enemies against the country.
He also said that other purposes of the maneuvers are to increase the
country's deterrence capability, practice modern defensive tactics, and test
advanced indigenous military equipment, Mehr News added. (end)
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KUNA 202212 Feb 12NNNN