Iran launches massive military exercise

Iran launches massive military exercise

Tehran, Aug. 19 (AP): Iran today launched a series of large-scale military exercises aimed at introducing the country’s new defensive doctrine, State-run television reported.

The television report said the military exercise would occur in 14 of the country’s 30 provinces and could last as long as five weeks.

The first stage of the manoeuvers began with air strikes in the southeastern province of Sistan Va Baluchistan, the report said.

The military exercises come as Iran faces heightened international scrutiny because of its contentious nuclear programme and for supporting the guerrilla group Hizbollah in Lebanon.

Iran has denied Israeli accusations it is arming and training Hizbollah fighters, but also has declared Hizbollah victorious in its battle against the Jewish State, which ended Monday when a UN ceasefire resolution went into effect.

The Islamic Republic, which views the United States as an arch foe, also is concerned about the US military presence in neighbouring Iraq and Afghanistan and Israel’s threats to destroy its nuclear facilities.

The military exercise involving 12 infantry regiments, is called ’The Blow of Zolfaghar’, in reference to a sword that belonged to Imam Ali, one of the most revered figures of Islam for Shia Muslims.

A majority of Iran’s 70 million people are Shias.

Iran has routinely held war games over the past two decades to improve its combat readiness and test locally made equipment such as missiles, tanks and armored personnel carriers.
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