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Iranian Air Defense Force conducts major maneuver

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) ms.gb KUNA 202212 Feb 12NNNN