Iran’s armed forces launched the Great Prophet-19 military drills on January 4, encompassing the southeast, south, and west of the country. The exercises are set to last for two months.
Elite units from the regular army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), along with tens of thousands of Basij paramilitary volunteers operating under IRGC command, will participate in the “anti-terror” exercises, according to the Tasnim news agency.
The IRGC’s drill headquarters commander, Brig. Gen. Ali Shadmani, told the state broadcaster IRIB that the land, air, and naval exercises aim to combat “terrorists” in areas near the Pakistani border in the southeast and the Iraqi border in the west.
These regions have experienced decades of deadly cross-border hit-and-run attacks by Baluchi and Kurdish rebels. Iran and Pakistan have sought cooperation against “terrorists” amid mutual accusations of harboring Baluchi militant groups in border areas.
Meanwhile, Tehran accuses Kurdish groups of “terrorist” activities and collaborating with Israel near its borders – allegations denied by the Kurdish groups. The IRGC has repeatedly shelled locations within Iraqi Kurdistan, often resulting in casualties.
Shadmani further stated that the drills “will test the command networks” of Iranian forces, employing modern techniques and equipment to enhance and maintain combat readiness.
The naval phase of the exercise will take place in the northern Indian Ocean, the Sea of Oman, and the Persian Gulf, extending to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime route responsible for over 20% of global oil traffic.
The drill will also encompass the three Iran-controlled Gulf islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb, which are disputed by the United Arab Emirates. Iran has consistently dismissed Emirati claims, asserting that Tehran’s sovereignty over the three islands is non-negotiable.
The IRGC’s Ground Forces initiated the drill in western regions on January 4, beginning with the deployment of a Special Forces Brigade from the northern city of Rasht to the western city of Kermanshah. The first phase focused on “rapid response operation scenarios.”
“The rapid transfer of forces and equipment to the exercise area is a key component of these operations, which was carried out in the first phase of the drill by the Mirza Kuchak Khan Brigade,” Tasnim reported.
Source » iranintl