Iran's Army to stage major ground drills: commander

The Iranian Army said it is to carry out extensive military exercises in September, local satellite Press TV reported Sunday.

According to the report, General Amir Pourdastan said the drills will be staged in Iran's southwestern Khouzestan Province and the western Ilam Province.

The practices are to showcase the country's innovative military strategies and skills while to test newly developed armaments built by the defense industries of the Iranian Army, such as the weaponry activated by composite launchers, Pourdastan was quoted as saying.

He said on Saturday that the maneuvers also aim to implement new military skills in a combat theatre with rough terrain.

Weaponry planned for use and testing during the drills include refurbished and upgraded tanks utilizing laser systems, helicopters and pilotless aircraft, Press TV quoted Pourdastan as saying.

Besides, the deputy commander of Iran's Air Force said Thursday that the air force will stage war games in late July, according to the official IRNA news agency.

Talking to reporters, Mohsen Darrehbaqi said the war games will be carried out in one of the country's air force bases, but did not tell the exact site of the practice, IRNA reported.

Earlier in May, Iran had held an eight-day navy drill in its southern waters which had also been participated by the air force who had used its fighter jets in large scale.

Source: Xinhua