Iran's IRGC to stage new ground military drills

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force has planned to carry out new military exercises by the end of the current Iranian calendar year ( starting March 20), the local satellite Press TV reported.

Commander of the IRGC Ground Forces Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour said Sunday that the IRGC is completely prepared to strike back at any act of aggression against the Islamic Republic, said the report.

According to Pakpour, the main purpose of IRGC military drills is to improve the combat preparedness of Iranian forces for any possible military attack.

The report did not specify the location of the next IRGC military drills.

Last week, IRGC Ground Forces wrapped up the "Hamiane Velayat" (supporters of Velayat) military drills in southern Iran. Pakpour said that all elements of a tactical commando raid and aerial combat were "successfully" practiced during the ground military drills.

The IRGC forces also launched air offensive and defensive operations, carried out heliborne and anti-heliborne maneuvers and ambushed the hypothetical enemies' armored and mechanized columns, and the forces exercised the aerial transportation of military equipment as well as overnight raids during the military maneuvers, Pakpour said.

The drills were intended to convey a message of peace and friendship to the countries in the Middle East, while advising Iran's enemies to observe prudence in their behavior towards the Islamic Republic, he added.

Iran has said that its exercises in the southern waters and the nearby areas are aimed at maintaining readiness to confront threats in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, an important passage for oil tankers. Tehran has also threatened to close the strait if it cannot sell its oil in the face of Western sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Source: XINHUA