TEHRAN, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Iran will conduct a large-scale military exercise in the south of the country beginning Dec. 25, a senior Iranian military commander announced Thursday.
The seven-day war game, codenamed "Mohammad Rasolallah," will involve the Army, Navy, Air Force, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps and the Basij (Volunteer) Force, Army Brig. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi told reporters.
"New weapons and tactics will be tested and evaluated in the war games," he added. Navy Commander Rear Adm. Habibollah Sayyari said tests would include assessing the capability of Iran's "surface-to-surface, surface-to-sea, surface-to-air and air-to-surface missiles."
The objective of the exercise, Mousavi explained, is to bolster Iran's combat power, including practicing counter-terrorism maneuvers.
The exercise will also serve as a "show of lasting might, peace, and friendship under the banner of Islamic and regional unity" and to demonstrate that Iran is "opposed to the presence of foreigners in the region," Mousavi added.
