IRGC Navy kicks off drills in Persian Gulf

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has launched drills to show its power and combat defense readiness in protecting the security of the Persian Gulf as well as the country’s islands.

The exercises kicked off in Bu Musa Island on Wednesday with the presence of local authorities as well as a group of military commanders and officials, including IRGC Chief Commander Major General Hossein Salami and IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali-Reza Tangsiri.

It involves operational combat, vessel, missile, drone, air-sea, electronic warfare and rapid response units, along with Basij volunteer forces.

Brigadier General Ali Ozmaei, Commander of Imam Muhammad Baqir (PBUH) Operational Base of the IRGC Navy, said that the vessels of Martyr Hojaji Special Unit, equipped with missiles with a range of 600 kilometers, were present in the drills to defend the island’s territory.

In addition to missile- and rocket-launching vessels, helicopters and aircraft took part in the maneuvers, during which 50 paratroopers successfully performed a heliborne operation, he noted.

“One of the important features of the drills was the use of drones and unmanned vessels that were upgraded through artificial intelligence,” the commander said.

“Another feature of the exercises was the transfer of troops from the mainland to Bu Musa Island and the Greater Tunb in less than 15 minutes using helicopters and airplanes.”

He further warned that the trans-regional countries have no place in the Persian Gulf and that they should leave the region.

ME