WANA – Conducted by the entire four branches of Iran’s Army, the Zolfaghar 1401 drill kicked off on Thursday in the Jask region and will be extended to the east of the Strait of Hormuz.

 

The Coordinating Deputy of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, a former Marine Commando who fought in the Iran–Iraq war said the exercise aims to increase the readiness of the troops, which include airborne infantry, helicopters, military transport aircraft, fighter jets, armored, mechanized units of the ground forces, systems of the air defense force, subsurface, surface, and rangers of the army navy.

According to Sayyari, the drill is meant for improving the military forces’ skill in carrying operations in special environments, to demonstrate self-confidence, power and constant security. Moreover, the Navy’s rangers employed upgraded arms and equipment to carry out the operation and led modern tactics as well as defensive plans in the dead of night.

 

On the third day of Zolfaghar 1401 drills, the Army forces fired the local-made Khordad 15 air defense system among others.

 

One of the other objectives of the drill which will be extended to 10 degrees north of the Indian Ocean is to remind the regional countries that the peace will be achieved in the region through the cooperation and unity. The war games are also aimed to show the arms embargo on the Islamic Republic of Iran has been futile.

Zolfaghar 1401 drill

Members of the Iranian Army take part in an annual drill in the coastal area of the Gulf of Oman and near the Strait of Hormuz, Iran, in this picture obtained on December 30, 2022. Iranian Army/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

The Coordinating Deputy of Iran’s Army stressed that the withdrawal of non-regional countries, including the U.S. and the UK, from the region will guarantee the stability; stressing that they are try to wage war not establish peace. This is a reminder of the fact that Iran opposes the presence of the U.S. and Western forces in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman.

 

Strengthening the military power has always been one of the policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In this regard, the constant threats of the Israeli regime as well as the U.S. against Iran’s nuclear facilities have also been instrumental. (Zolfaghar 1401 drill)

 

Tel Aviv has recently said that its forces will target Iranian nuclear facilities within two or three next years, a threat which Tehran says is almost a bluff claiming that in the aftermath of such an attack, no country called Israel will remain.

Zolfaghar 1401 drill

Members of the Iranian Army take part in an annual drill in the coastal area of the Gulf of Oman and near the Strait of Hormuz, Iran, in this picture obtained on December 30, 2022. Iranian Army/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

After such a threat, Commander of Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters, Major General Gholam-Ali Rashid said on the sidelines of the drill that the regime of Israel is a destructive security threat to all countries of the region, including Iran, and the intimidating actions of this regime against Iran’s interests and national security are evaluated with the information, coordination and backing of the U.S. and the reaction of the Iranian armed forces will be definite.

 

General Rashid went on to say that the united power of Iran’s armed forces will be devastating against the enemy invasion, and any country that cooperates with the Zionist regime to threaten Iran’s national security will be a target for Iran’s armed forces.